A man is in custody after he threatened the Pawhuska School District and his place of work.
The Pawhuska Police Department says 20-year-old Justin Boone is in custody and has admitted to making the threats. Police Chief Nick Silva said the threats were specific, and that Boone was identified as the suspect by multiple witnesses. On Facebook, Pawhuska Public Schools said that they had been notified of the threats Thursday morning. Police Chief Nick Silva said Boone had access to weapons. Pawhuska Superintendent David Cash is grateful for the new-found partnership between the school system and the police department. As reported earlier this month on KWON, members of the school district have radios that can connect instantly to the police department. Boone is being held in the Osage County Jail for threatening acts of violence complaints. Less than a week remains for registered voters in Osage County to apply for absentee ballots so that they could be mailed to them for the September 10th Pawhuska School Special Bond Election. This bond will deal strictly with transportation services for the school.
The County Election Board must receive applications by Wednesday, September 4th so that the vote can be counted for the election. Voters may apply in person at the County Election Board Office in Pawhuska, or by way of fax, mail or e-mail. An online version of the form is available at elections.ok.gov. Any registered voter can send in an absentee ballot without giving a reason. Sample ballots are available at the Election Board Office, located at 630 Kihekah Ave. in Pawhuska from 9 to 4 Monday through Friday. For any questions, call the Election Board at 918-287-3036. The Board of Osage County Commissioners will meet Monday morning for a regularly scheduled meeting at the courthouse in Pawhuska.
Executive Director for Osage County Tourism, Kelly Bland, will be at the meeting giving a report on how much money has been spent in the county over the last month. Bland will also be requesting money for upcoming events, including the National Indian Taco Championship in Pawhuska and Heritage Days in Fairfax. April Thompson of Hominy EMS will be at the meeting discussing the proposed EMS Advisory Board and the analysis survey. After being tabled for nearly a month now, the commissioners will also consider signing an upgraded fairgrounds policy and procedures manual. The commissioners will also attempt to fill out a job description sheet for the managerial position at the Osage County Fairgrounds. District Two Commissioner Kevin Pasley will consider signing a service agreement with Guy Engineering Services to make embankment repairs along Holt Rd. The commissioners will also go into executive session to interview applicants for the vacant E-911 position. That meeting starts at 10 o’ clock in the morning for anyone interested in attending. Three defendants were back in Osage County court Thursday afternoon for the murder of John Adkins.
Toby Bighorse, Maurice Kent and Daniel Keene are being charged with first or second degree murder in the alternative for the October 1 shooting death of Adkins. At Thursday’s court appearance, the Defense was trying to argue that the murder happened on Indian land and that it would be out of the State’s jurisdiction. Investigator for the Osage County Sheriff’s Office, Bill Gee was first called to the stand. Gee was one of the first investigators to make contact with Adkins’ body. Gee testified that he believed the incident didn’t take place Indian land. Tyson Johnson, General Manager of Sooner Cattle Company, was also called to the stand. It was discovered that the murder occurred on Johnson’s land and he testified that his land isn’t Indian owned. Melissa Curry, the Real Estate Manager for the Osage Nation, was also called to the stand. She testified that there is no parcel of land touching Johnson’s land that is Indian owned. Keene was also called to the stand and testified that it occurred on Johnson’s property. After hearing testimony from witnesses, the judge decided that there was enough evidence for the State of Oklahoma to proceed in its prosecution. The defendants are next due back in court on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Extra curricular activities such as athletics, agriculture and band have always been offered at Pawhuska Public Schools. Now, the school system has formed another relationship so that students have the opportunity to participate in even more fun activities. Superintendent David Cash is very excited the students will have an opportunity toparticipate in these classes if they choose.
Cash believes this will continue to unify the school with the city of Pawhuska. Cash says he has been working with the Oklahoma Arts Council to make this free of charge for students. The school will provide free transportation. Three defendants are due back at the Osage County Courthouse in Pawhuska at 1 o' clock on Thursday afternoon for the murder of John Adkins.
Toby Bighorse, Daniel Keene and Maurice Kent will go through a motion hearing at that time. All three defendants entered not guilty pleas in April for the October 1 death of Adkins. Motions were filed by the Defense in April, one of which stated that the three defendants had Native American blood. The Defense stated that because the crime occurred on Native American land, the case should be turned over to the United States Attorney's Office. 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. A new school year starts this Thursday in Pawhuska and new classes are being offered to students at both the junior high and senior high level. Epic Charter schools have became extremely popular across the country. Therefore, the Pawhuska school board has approved a virtual learning academy for the coming year. Sixth through twelfth graders are eligible.
Cash said Epic School is the third largest high school in Osage County and they will soon be the largest high school in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Cash is excited about the opportunity this presents for his students. It is free of charge to sign up for these courses. Caney Valley Kansas Schools were under a soft lock down at both schools as the city looked into a situation on Tuesday afternoon
Sergeant Natalie Rees with the Caney Police Department said students were safe and accounted during the hour long lockdown. Sgt. Rees explained what a soft lock down is. Under the soft lock down, students were not allowed to leave the school and no one was permitted inside the building. However, the students were free to roam around the schools. The Caney Police Department made the call to have the schools conduct the soft lock down to keep students in once central location. The Caney Valley Schools Facebook Page said all students were safe and accounted for during the incident. Bus routes were delayed by 45 minutes. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, a semi had overturned on U.S. Highway 60 near County Road 2145 at 10:35 a.m. on Tuesday.
The accident occurred in Osage County approximately 6 miles west of Bartlesville. The semi was carrying drinking water. No other vehicles were involved in the semi accident. The truck has since been flipped back onto its wheels. Hwy 60 West is now open. From 4-6 Wednesday evening, Pawhuska Public Schools will hold a back to school bash at each building from 4-6.
School starts for Thursday, Aug. 22 and if you have yet to enroll your child for the 2019-2020 school year, you need to do so as soon as possible. Middle and high school students must be enrolled before being able to receive their schedule. Online enrollment can be completed at pawhuskadistrict.org. |
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