Daily Bible verse
The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.
Psalms 33:5
Blast from the past
The 1960 Heavener football team, the only team in school history to end the season without a loss, finishing 11-0-1.
West to hold meeting in Poteau
State representative Rick West will hold a town hall meeting Friday from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Patrick Lynch Library in Poteau.
Deadline to request absentee ballots approaching
Deadline to request absentee ballots by mail is approaching. Applications must be received by the County Election Board no later than 5 p.m. Monday.
LeFlore County Election Board Secretary Kayla Rees, said absentee voting is available to all voters and applications can be submitted several ways.
“ln Oklahoma, no excuse is needed to vote by absentee ballot, and it's easy to apply,” she said. “Voters can submit their application online, in-person, by fax, mail, or even email."
Voters can apply online using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.qov/elections/ovp. Applications are also available at the County Election Board or can be downloaded at oklahoma.qov/elections.
Rees reminds voters that only the applicant can submit his or her own absentee ballot application. It is against the law to submit an absentee ballot application for another person.
Voters with questions about absentee voting should contact the County Election Board at (918)647-3701 or [email protected].
The LeFlore County Election Board is located at 103 North Church Street in Poteau and is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Oklahoma fishing report
NORTHEAST
Birch: Jul 20. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 85°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Striped bass hybrids good on live shad around main lake and points. Crappie fair on jigs, minnows around brush structure. Report submitted by Jeremy Bersche, game warden stationed in Osage County.
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Copan: Jul 20. Elevation is 11 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 80°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Blue, channel, and flathead catfish slow on chicken liver, crawfish, cut bait, goldfish, hot dogs, live bait, shad, shrimp, stinkbait, sunfish, and worms below the dam, channels, coves, main lake, and shorelines. Crappie slow on hair jigs, minnows, plastic baits, PowerBait, small lures, and tube jigs below the dam, brush structure, and shorelines. Report submitted by Lt. Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Eucha: Jul 20. Elevation is 3 ft. below normal and stable, water temperature 86°F and stained. (USGS Lake Level) Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, spinnerbaits around brush structure, points, and shorelines. Channel catfish fair on cut bait, dough bait, and hot dogs around coves, main lake, and shorelines. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush structure and shorelines. Report submitted by Riley Willman, game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Grand: Jul 20. Elevation is 2 ft. above normal and stable, water temperature 87°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, jigs, and plastic baits around docks, main lake, points, rocks, and shorelines. Blue catfish fair on cut bait and shad below the dam, docks and main lake. White bass fair on in-line spinnerbaits, jigs, and spoons around flats, main lake, and points. Report submitted by Riley Willman, game warden stationed in Delaware County.
Greenleaf: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 83°F and clear. Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, lipless baits, plastic baits, and topwater lures around brush structure, docks, points, shorelines, and weed beds. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, shad, and worms around coves, creek channels, flats, and main lake. Green sunfish fair on grasshoppers, PowerBait, small lures, and worms around brush structure, docks, shallows, and weed beds. Report submitted by Dylan Langford, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
Hudson: Jul 20. Elevation is 9 ft. above normal and rising, water temperature 84°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, jigs, spoons, topwater lures, and worms around coves, docks, and shorelines. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on crankbaits, plastic baits, and topwater lures below the dam, channels, and points. Blue catfish good on chicken liver, shad, and shrimp below the dam, channels, and points. Report submitted by Cody Morris, game warden stationed in Mayes County.
Hulah: Jul 20. Elevation is 10 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 80°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Blue, channel, and flathead catfish slow on chicken liver, crawfish, dough bait, goldfish, hot dogs, live bait, live shad, shad, shrimp, stinkbait, sunfish, and worms below the dam, channels, main lake, and shorelines. Crappie slow on hair jigs, minnows, PowerBait, and tube jigs around brush structure, coves, and shorelines. Report submitted by Lt. Joe Alexander, game warden stationed in Washington County.
Kaw: Jul 21. Elevation is 11 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 84°F and murky. (USACE Lake Level) Striped bass, striped bass hybrids, and white bass slow on Alabama rigs, crankbaits, grubs, jigs, live shad, sassy shad, and topwater lures below the dam. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish good on crawfish, cut bait, live bait, live shad, stinkbait, sunfish, and worms below the dam, river channel, and shallows. Paddlefish excellent snagging below the dam. Report submitted by Spencer Grace, game warden stationed in Kay County.
Keystone: Jul 21. Elevation is 14 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 87°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass good on buzz baits, crankbaits, in-line spinnerbaits, jigs, plastic baits, sassy shad, small lures, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures around points, shallows, shorelines, standing timber, and weed beds. Flathead catfish good around rocks. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows below the dam and brush structure. Report submitted by Tracer Wagner, game warden stationed in Creek County.
Lower Illinois River: Jul 18. Elevation is 5 ft. above normal and stable, water temperature 70°F and stained. Rainbow trout fair on caddis flies, hair jigs, in-line spinnerbaits, midges, nymphs, PowerBait, spoons, and worms below the dam, shallows, and shorelines. Comments: Current river flow 2400 CFS. Report submitted by Jerry Henry, game warden stationed in Sequoyah County.
Oologah: Jul 20. Elevation is 7 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 77°F and stained. Largemouth and smallmouth bass good on crankbaits, lipless baits, plastic baits, and worms around docks, points, riprap, and shorelines. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish good on in-line spinnerbaits, shad, shrimp, sunfish, and worms around channels, creek channels, flats, main lake, riprap, and sandbar. Report submitted by Dartanion Tilley, game warden stationed in Nowata County.
Skiatook: Jul 20. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 85°F and clear. (USACE Lake Level) Smallmouth bass fair on topwater lures around main lake and points. Striped bass hybrids good on live bait around creek channels and main lake. Report submitted by Jeremy Bersche, game warden stationed in Osage County.
Tenkiller: Jul 20. Elevation is 2.5 ft. above normal and rising, water temperature 85°F and murky. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass fair on crankbaits, flukes, jigs, lipless baits, plastic baits, and topwater lures around brush structure, channels, docks, points, and shorelines. White bass fair on in-line spinnerbaits, jigs, and spoons around flats and main lake. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, live bait, shad, stinkbait, sunfish, and worms around brush structure, main lake, and shorelines. Report submitted by Cody Youngblood, game warden stationed in Cherokee County.
Webbers Falls: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 83°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, flukes, jigs, plastic baits, and spinnerbaits around brush structure, creek channels, river channel, shorelines, and weed beds. Blue and channel catfish fair on chicken liver, hair jigs, shad, sunfish, and worms around discharge, river channel, and river mouth. Crappie fair on jigs, minnows, and small lures around brush structure, coves, and riprap. Report submitted by Dylan Langford, game warden stationed in Muskogee County.
NORTHWEST
Fort Supply: Jul 21. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 83°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Channel catfish fair on chicken liver around main lake, rocks, and shorelines. Report submitted by Jason Badley, game warden stationed in Harper County.
SOUTHEAST
Blue River: Jul 21. Elevation is 0.5 ft. above normal and stable, water temperature 80°F and stained. (USGS Lake Level) Largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass good on buzz baits, crankbaits, lipless baits, plastic baits, small lures, spinnerbaits, topwater lures, and tube jigs around brush structure, channels, points, rocks, shorelines, and weed beds. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, punch bait, shrimp, stinkbait, and worms around brush structure, channels, and rocks. Report submitted by Ethan Lovelace, biologist at the Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area.
Broken Bow: Jul 18. Elevation is 2 ft. above normal and stable, water temperature 82°F and clear. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, lipless baits, and plastic baits around coves, flats, and points. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around brush structure and standing timber. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, and hot dogs around creek channels. Report submitted by Dru Polk, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Carlton: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 80°F and murky. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, channel catfish, crappie, bluegill sunfish, green sunfish, and redear sunfish fair on crickets, jigs, live bait, and minnows. Report submitted by Blake Dull, game warden stationed in Latimer County.
Coon Creek: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 80°F and murky. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, white bass, and crappie on crickets, jigs, live bait, and minnows. Report submitted by Blake Dull, game warden stationed in Latimer County.
Hugo: Jul 18. Elevation is 3 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 77°F and murky. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth, spotted, and white bass fair on bill baits, crankbaits, jigs, lipless baits, and plastic baits around brush structure, points, and standing timber. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, live bait, live shad, and worms around dam, discharge, and spillway. Crappie fair on hair jigs, minnows, and tube jigs around brush structure, main lake, and standing timber. Report submitted by Chance Phillips, game warden stationed in Choctaw County.
Eufaula: Jul 18. Elevation is 1 ft. above normal and stable, water temperature 83°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Striped bass, striped bass hybrids, and white bass fair on flukes, hair jigs, jigs, and sassy shad below the dam, discharge, and tailwater. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish good on cut bait, dough bait, live bait, live shad, and shad around channels, river channel, and river mouth. Crappie fair on hair jigs, jigs, and minnows around brush structure, docks, and rocks. Report submitted by Jake Rowland, game warden stationed in McIntosh County.
Konawa: Jul 20. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 88°F and clear. Largemouth bass good on crankbaits, jigs, and plastic baits around main lake, points, river channel, and weed beds. Striped bass hybrids and white bass good on crankbaits and live shad around coves, inlet, main lake, and river channel. Channel catfish good on chicken liver, cut bait, and shrimp around inlet, riprap, and rocks. Report submitted by Garret Harley, game warden stationed in Seminole County.
Lower Mountain Fork River: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 69°F and clear. Rainbow trout good on in-line spinnerbaits, PowerBait, and small lures below the dam, creek channels, and spillway. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
McGee Creek: Jul 18. Elevation is 1 ft. above normal and stable, water temperature 85°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth and spotted bass excellent on Alabama rigs, bill baits, buzz baits, in-line spinnerbaits, jerk baits, jigs, minnows, plastic baits, and topwater lures around brush structure, main lake, points, rocks, and standing timber. Channel and flathead catfish good on live bait, shad, sunfish, and worms around creek channels, main lake, and rocks. Crappie fair on minnows, small lures, and tube jigs around brush structure, points, and standing timber. Report submitted by Shay Loudermilk, game warden stationed in Atoka County.
Robert S. Kerr: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 78°F and murky. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth and smallmouth bass slow on crankbaits, grubs, in-line spinnerbaits, jigs, minnows, small lures, spinnerbaits, and topwater lures around brush structure, creek channels, docks, shallows, shorelines, standing timber, and weed beds. Striped bass, blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, hot dogs, minnows, shad, shrimp, and stinkbait around channels, creek channels, river channel, and river mouth. Crappie slow on hair jigs, in-line spinnerbaits, live bait, live shad, and minnows around brush structure, coves, docks, inlet, points, riprap, and shorelines. Report submitted by James Pixley, game warden stationed in Haskell County.
Texoma: Jul 18. Elevation is 1 ft. below normal and stable, water temperature 83°F and clear. (USACE Lake Level) Striped bass fair on live shad and plastic baits below the dam, channels, and main lake. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish good on cut bait, live shad, PowerBait, and punch bait below the dam, coves, and docks. Crappie fair on hair jigs, jigs, and minnows around coves, docks, and standing timber. Comments: Fishing this week has been about the same. Striper are good and the next day it’s tough. Striper have been good behind the Denison Dam last couple days on live shad and top water lures. Catfish are good on live shad and punch bait as well. Crappie has been slow this week but are being caught near and around brush piles. Report submitted by Garrett Beam, game warden stationed in Marshall County.
Pine Creek: Jul 18. Elevation is 7 ft. above normal and rising, water temperature 81°F and clear. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass fair on crankbaits, lipless baits, plastic baits, and topwater lures around coves, creek channels, and points. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around standing timber. Channel catfish fair on chicken liver, cut bait, hot dogs, and punch bait around creek channels and dam. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County.
Sardis: Jul 18. Elevation is 1 ft. above normal and falling, water temperature 85°F and stained. (USACE Lake Level) Largemouth bass good on bill baits, crankbaits, lipless baits, plastic baits, and spinnerbaits around brush structure, channels, points, and standing timber. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish good on cut bait, shad, stinkbait, sunfish, and worms around brush structure, points, and standing timber. Crappie good on jigs and minnows around brush structure and standing timber. Report submitted by Thomas Gillham, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County.
Wayne Wallace: Jul 18. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 80°F and stained. Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, and crappie good on jigs, live bait, and minnows. Report submitted by Blake Dull, game warden stationed in Latimer County.
SOUTHWEST
Waurika: Jul 20. Elevation is normal and stable, water temperature 75°F and murky. Striped bass hybrids and white bass fair on crankbaits, minnows, and small lures around main lake and rocks. Blue, channel, and flathead catfish fair on crawfish, cut bait, and shrimp around main lake, rocks, shorelines, and spillway. Report submitted by Tucker Clem, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.
High temperatures continue Thursday
LeFlore County weather forecast for Thursday is for clear skies and the hottest day of the year so far for the county and the area.
The high is forecast to be 99 degrees with a low of 74. A heat advisory is in effect from noon through 8 p.m. Heat index value of 108 is expected.
Sunrise was 6:22 a.m. Sunset is 8:27 p.m.
Wednesday’s high was 98, the hottest recorded temperature so far in 2025, with a low of 71. No rain was recorded, leaving the monthly total at 4.06 inches, surpassing July’s average rainfall of 3.10 inches.
Average temperatures for July 23 are a high of 95 and low of 66. Records for the date were a high of 107 in 1974 and a low of 59 in 1984. The last day to have rain in the county was July 14.
Last year on July 24, the high was 91 with a low of 69.
LeFlore County calendar of events
LeFlore County calendar of events for the next week. The calendar is a free service for our readers. If you are with a non-profit and want an event publicized, email [email protected].
Thursday
Poteau Kiwanis Club meets noon
Heavener VFW bingo 6:30 p.m. Highway 59 North
Friday
Rep. Rick West town hall meeting, Patrick Lynch Library from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Sunday
Monday
LeFlore County commissioners meet 9 a.m.
Tuesday
Poteau Evening Lions Club meet 6 p.m. CASC
Wednesday
Poteau Rotary Club meets noon EOMC
The One Big, Beautiful Bill is Making the Economy Great Again
By Senator Markwayne Mullin
Oklahomans overwhelmingly voted for President Donald J. Trump to bring down costs and get our economy back on track. As promised, the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ that became law on the 4th of July delivers the most pro-growth, pro-family, and pro-business policies in American history.
MULLIN IT OVER
While Washington Democrats scream the same tired lies about “tax cuts for billionaires” until they’re blue in the face, Americans know the truth. Our economy was MUCH better for working families and small businesses before Joe Biden took office.
Back in 2017, many doubted President Trump. Then, Congress passed the President’s extremely successful Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 which primarily benefited low- and middle-income families while increasing the share of taxes paid by the wealthiest Americans.
In fact, during President Trump’s first term, working families making less than $30,000 saw the largest tax cut of ANY income group (13.5%) thanks to the 2017 Republican tax law. The bottom 20 percent of earners saw their federal tax rate fall to the lowest levels in 40 years. In 2018 and 2019, wages increased 4.9 percent, and real median household income rose by $5,000.
In 2024, President Trump ran on restoring the strongest economy in history and delivering historic tax breaks for working-class Americans. The ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ makes the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts permanent– protecting the average taxpayer from a 22 percent tax hike.
If Congressional Republicans had failed to make the Trump Tax Cuts permanent in this bill, the average working family of four in Oklahoma would’ve seen a $2,013 tax hike next year. Just one week after it became law, the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ is already paying off for the millions of Americans who voted for President Trump–and even those who didn’t!
Instead of a tax hike, the OBBB delivers an additional $1,300 tax cut for the average American family–the equivalent of roughly nine weeks of groceries for a family of four. On average, workers will see $3,300 more in real income back in their pockets.
Our legislation delivers even more Trump campaign promises, including boosting the Child Tax Credit for over 40 million families, no tax on tips or overtime pay, and additional tax relief for seniors. These policies reflect Republicans’ belief that Americans should keep more of their hard-earned tax dollars to spend and save at home instead of sending more money to Washington, D.C. bureaucrats.
While no bill is perfect, I was extremely proud to cast a YES vote on ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ to deliver on many of our MAGA campaign promises.
Remember: every single Democrat in the U.S. House and Senate OPPOSED tax relief and voted FOR the largest tax hike in history on 207 million taxpayers. Luckily, President Trump and Congressional Republicans delivered.”
Today in history
On July 24, 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts — two of whom had been the first humans to set foot on the moon — splashed down safely in the Pacific.
Also on this date:
In 1567, Mary, Queen of Scots, was forced to abdicate her throne to her one-year-son James.
In 1847, Mormon leader Brigham Young and his followers arrived in the Salt Lake Valley in present-day Utah.
In 1866, Tennessee became the first state to be readmitted to the Union after the Civil War.
In 1915, the SS Eastland, a passenger ship carrying more than 2,500 people, rolled onto its side while docked at the Clark Street Bridge on the Chicago River. An estimated 844 people died in the disaster.
In 1959, during a visit to Moscow, Vice President Richard Nixon engaged in his famous “Kitchen Debate” with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
In 1974, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that President Richard Nixon had to turn over subpoenaed White House tape recordings to the Watergate special prosecutor.
In 1975, an Apollo spacecraft splashed down in the Pacific, completing a mission which included the first docking with a Soyuz capsule from the Soviet Union.
In 2010, a stampede inside a tunnel crowded with techno music fans left 21 people dead and more than 500 injured at the famed Love Parade festival in western Germany.
In 2013, a high-speed train crash outside Santiago de Compostela in northwest Spain killed 79 people.
Daniel James Emerson Mammedaty death notice
Daniel James Emerson Mammedaty, 27, of Pocola passed away July 23, 2025, in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
A funeral service to honor his life is 11 a.m. Friday at Evans Memorial Chapel in Pocola, with Brother Al Ruckman officiating. Services are under the direction of Evans and Miller Funeral Home in Pocola. Burial will follow at Rainy Mountain Cemetery in Mountain View, under the direction of Comanche Funeral Home in Lawton.
He was born July 11, 1998 in Fort Smith, Arkansas, to Alicia (Ware) Mammedaty and the late Randy Mammedaty, Sr.
He was also preceded in death by his brother, Corporal Joshua Jerald Ware.
Surviving family members are his fiancée, Catelynn Cox, and their unborn daughter, Carli Mae Denise Mammedaty; his children Joshua Allen Mammedaty and Ella Jane Mammedaty; his mother, Alicia Mammedaty; sisters Randi Mammedaty, Dawn Autaubo and husband Cecil, and Melody Pahcoddy; brothers Dustin Ware, Sky Mammedaty, Randy Mammedaty Jr. and Kevin Mammedaty; grandparents Patrick and Nancy Autaubo; grandmother, Sue Oyebi; and grandparents-in-law Dusty and Denise Cox.
Viewing is Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the family present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home in Pocola.
Messages of condolence may be left online at www.evansandmillerfuneralhome.com.