What began as the “Omicron nightmare” in 2022 evolved into a dream come true by the end of 2023. This year, COVID-19 almost disappeared from the public discussion as cases, hospitalizations and deaths declined significantly.
In 2023, emerging evidence clearly showed Sulphur and the nation as nearly fully recovered from the three-year Covid Pandemic.
(See 2023, An Overview) January saw Covid still dominating the news as the community transmission level nationwide was “high,” according to the CDC. As the winter flu season wound down, by April these levels declined to “low.” Fears of another dreadful Omicron variant spike proved unfounded. Transmission levels stayed mostly low in Oklahoma and Murray County for the rest of the year.
To summarize, there was finally cause for optimism about community life returning to normalcy experienced before 2020. Now, it probably is time to celebrate recovery from Covid: socially, emotionally, and physically.
This newspaper continuously reported this trajectory throughout 2023.
The increased safety in community activities this year become clearer with reports of various important activities and organizations locally. These include: schools, city council, law enforcement, veterans, CNRA, politics, and miscellaneous news.
Schools -- There is much Good News this year in the successes at Sulphur Public Schools. The big high school construction project finally started last summer with demolition of the old auditorium, gym, and west-side classrooms. Several stories and dramatic photos tracked the projects activities.
A dispute with the city council over safe room construction led to a court decision in the schools’ favor. By December, this percolating issue had quieted to a simmer as the school board approved construction bond changes allowing for construction of a new wrestling room/storm shelter as part of Phase I.
School sports had a good year with many victories. Cory Cole is the new football coach, and he hit the ground running with the Dogs all season. The team scored some spectacular point-spread wins. Another team with an impressive record is the powerlifters. They earned a sixth consecutive state championship.
The schools also scored wins in academic competitions throughout the year. The Sulphur football team were the Class 3AAcademic State Champions for the second straight year.
Superintendent Matt Holder frequently delivered good news about the schools’financial conditions at the monthly school board meetings.
The Sulphur Foundation for Excellence in Education is back in action after Covid-caused delays. Teachers at all grade levels can request grant help in several academic areas.
City Council -- Arguably it has been a difficult year for the Sulphur City Council. The first rumblings of turmoil at the city level began in January with a long-awaited audit report for 2019-2020. Infractions were noted, some of which are alleged to have continued for years without correction.
Also in January, a new city attorney was hired. Despite some controversy, the council voted 3-2 to re-hire him. Election results during the year put a couple of new faces on the council.
In May, the council raised water utility rates to pursue a grant application. That raise is on top of a raise in all municipal utility rates in 2022.
In June, the council deadlocked in a vote of 2-2 on the city manager’s employment contract after his re-hire earlier. In a later vote, they voted 3-2 to approve a new contract.
In September, the council was faced with two petitions calling for recall elections for several council members. In a court ruling later, one petition was tossed out due to technicalities. The other petition calling for recall of one councilman resulted in a city election to decide the issue. The motion to recall failed at the polls, and the councilman retained his seat.
In November, council conflicts continued as three councilmen and others are named in a defamation lawsuit.
Law Enforcement -- A bizarre event this year was a phoned-in threat to police that someone was going to shoot everyone at Walmart. Police cleared the store and found the threat to be a hoax.
The year had many stories published about illegal marijuana grow farms in the state. The topic was featured in articles about law enforcement activities, and in columns by politicians. There also was legislation enacted to deal with this problem.
Oklahoma citizens had their say about the marijuana issue when a statewide vote about legalizing recreational possession and use failed at the polls in all 77 counties. Throughout the year there were several stories about successful interventions by Murray County Sheriff’s Department officers and Sulphur Police in the war on drugs, especially marijuana seizures.
State and local law enforcement also handled many traffic accidents in Sulphur and surrounding counties. This year seemed like a year of many deaths in vehicle accidents. There were at least three people killed in Sulphur accidents, and about 20 total vehicle deaths in Murray and bordering counties that were reported in this newspaper.
Veterans / Patriotism -- Early in the year, the Murray County Veterans Park was dedicated, after installation of eight new flagpoles. The flying banners are from all military branches, the Oklahoma flag, and the POW/ MIA flag.
July was a historically patriotic month featuring Independence Day activities and observances. A two-part story series detailed significant facts about the American Flag and what it symbolizes.
U.S. Representative Tom Cole’s regular column honored generations of military service. He ended his discussion saying, “God Bless America!” A story honored the Chickasaw “Warrior Spirit” of military service to America.
November was another time for patriotic stories. One featured ex-marine Andy Pannell who has run marathons in all 50 states in a journey spanning seven years and more than 66,000 miles.
Atwo-part series on the history of the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was featured around veterans day. The annual veterans parade was held featuring floats, Sulphur and Davis marching bands, and veterans participating.
A new holiday event was born in December as the OHCE clubs and the American Legion Post 148 presented a “Wreaths Across America” program at Oaklawn Cemetery on the 16th. The mission of the national event is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and to teach the next generation the value of freedom. On that same day, wreaths were placed at Arlington National Cemetery, all national cemeteries, and 3,700 cemeteries in every state. In all over 2.7 million wreaths were placed where American veterans rest.
CNRA-- The Chickasaw National Recreation Area enjoyed recognition this year as the “best national park for RVing and camping:” according to the USA Today newspaper. CNRA bested such famous parks destinations as Yellowstone, Great Smoky Mountains, Redwood, and the Grand Canyon. The park offers six campgrounds with over 400 campsites.
New this year in the park is the larger grazing pasture for the bison herd. The bison were successfully moved to their new home.
The annual Candlelight Tour featured a theme of the contributions In the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps to the creation of the park we see today. December saw two holiday activities offered in the park: “Winter Tales” on the 22nd, which include crafts and other activities for visitors, and the annual Bird Count on the 30th.
Weather -- While 2023 was mostly a mild year weather-wise, it did have its dramatic events, particularly tornadoes. April had more than twice the average number of tornadoes statewide for that month this year.
Sulphur and the county had only a few significant weather events including some drought periods. A big winter storm closed schools and businesses in February. More bad weather came in March as 69 mile-perhour winds hit the city. During the year, there was periodic flash flooding here. As the year ended, there was the possibility of snow during Christmas week.
Politics -- There always is plenty of news about Oklahoma legislative activities at the Capitol. Early spring is the time for new bills to be introduced. An issue of the newspaper in March included discussion of eight bills moving through the legislative process in the house and senate. Most involved issues related to schools and marijuana.
By June, legislation was signed to stop the proliferation of illegal purchases of Oklahoma land by aliens and non-U.S. citizens since the legalization of medical marijuana.
Locally, in December, Murray County Election Board Secretary Tommie Grimes announced she would retire at years’ end. A reception was held in her honor at the Courthouse Annex recently. She has been working at the election board since 2003, and was appointed secretary in 2011. Her assistant, Rhonda Summers, will be taking over for Grimes.
Other News -- The robust Oklahoma economy is rated as the third fastest growing in the U.S. The top two are Alaska and Texas.
The 101st Murray County Fair was held in September. The 76th running of the Hereford Heaven Stampede and Rodeo was held in June.
The Antique Tractor and Implement Show had a successful run. Photos in the newspaper showed happy children learning about frontier life… and no one is wearing a mask!
The Murray County Courthouse celebrated 100 years here.Another celebration was held in November to open the new Annex next door to the courthouse that now is home to several county departments and offices.
The Sulphur-Davis Chambers Banquet was a major community event successfully conducted in February without Covid fears. The Sulphur Citizen of the Year was former CNRA Superintendent Bill Wright.
The popular annual chamber SOUPer Bowl also was held in February. The 1st place soup winner was Arbuckle Memorial Hospital for broccoli cheese soup.
The ARTesian Arts Festival was held in May with more than 100 First American artists from many tribes. The Artists of the Arbuckles held its art and photography show at the ARTesian Gallery downtown in August. The group then held its annual art show at its gallery in September.
The Christmas Holiday Season kicked off without fear of pandemic mitigations. The chamber’s Christmas Parade of Lights was held on the Monday after Thanksgiving. The hospital hosted the 26th annual Avenue of Angels Ceremony on Nov. 26.
Now, what will the New Year bring….?
