Residents all across Muskogee have reported brown water coming out of their taps this summer.

The city of Muskogee is aware of the issue and has a simple explanation.

“The brown water is caused from higher water demand in summer,” said Tera Shows, city spokeswoman. “The increased demand forces us to increase pressure at water plant to meet the demand and turns loose sediment in the pipes.”

Fighting the brown water can help both you and the city, so Shows recommends everyone experiencing brown water contact the city to report it so crews can come out to your address and flush the lines there. It’s important, she said, to give the city a specific address so they know which pipes and lines need attention.

If you have brown water, the number to call is 918-684-6333, the city’s Public Works department.

A correctional officer at the Davis Correctional Facility in Holdenville has died from an injury sustained after an attack by an inmate yesterday.

As a group of inmates were being returned to their housing area from recreation, the assailant attacked the officer. Lifesaving efforts administered to the officer by facility medical staff were unsuccessful.

The identity of the officer is not being released, pending notification of the officer’s family. Officials with local law enforcement and the Oklahoma Department of Corrections were notified and are investigating the incident. The assailant has been identified and isolated. Additional details are pending the outcome of investigative efforts.

Sheryl Bischel, 56, of Eufaula was critically injured in a July 23 motorcycle wreck north of Eufaula that was just reported by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Around 10 p.m., Bischel was a passenger on a 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle being driven by Danny Kirby, of Eufaula when Kirby decided to turn left at a T intersection, the patrol reported. During the turn, the vehicle veered wide right, departing the roadway, the patrol stated.

Bischel was flown by helicopter to Saint Francis Tulsa, where she was admitted in critical condition with head, trunk arms, legs and internal injuries. Kirby refused treatment at Saint Francis Muskogee, the report stated.

The report also stated that Kirby had an odor of alcoholic beverage. He was wearing a helmet, Bischel was not, according to the patrol.

Jukebox Live, one of Branson’s most popular acts, will return to Muskogee’s Historic Roxy Theater, at 8 p.m. Friday, August 5 for a one-night-only performance.

The high-energy show, which features country, rock and pop song performances by four of Branson’s most seasoned and sought-after performers, was a smash hit when it brought its act to Oklahoma in February. The musicians and vocalists bring a comedic aspect to their routine while delivering their unforgettable renditions of songs by Billy Joel, Elton John, Mariah Carey, Carrie Underwood, Reba McIntyre, the Beatles, Temptations, Glen Campbell, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Elvis. The musical variety show is family friendly.

Doors open at 7:30 p.m. and the concert begins at 8. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at: Roxy Theater events on Eventbrite or at the Muskogee’s Historic Roxy Theater box office by calling 918-684-6366.

The Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation is expanding the Cherokee Nation’s Homeowner Assistance Fund program to help eligible citizens experiencing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Homeowner Assistance Fund will be available to eligible mortgage holders while funds last, which is estimated to be through 2026.

“The Homeowner Assistance Fund offered through the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation can help eligible Cherokee Nation citizens overcome certain challenges, such as delinquent mortgages and past due property taxes, so that they can remain in their homes,” HACN Interim Director Jerri Ann Killer said. “Cherokee Nation and the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation continue to navigate through the COVID-19 pandemic and this expansion of services is one of the great relief opportunities we can provide with funding through the U.S. Department of Treasury.”

A complete list of eligibility guidelines can be found online at www.hacn.org/HAF along with a link to the Homeowner Assistance Fund application.

The Housing Authority will prioritize applicants with households located within the Cherokee Nation Reservation, along with those who have households in a Kansas or Arkansas county that borders the Cherokee Nation Reservation in Oklahoma.

For more information, visit www.hacn.org or call 918-456-5482.

The Cherokee Nation is hosting a series of seven construction recruitment events between July and September to help connect Native and non-Native businesses and contractors to an unprecedented number of tribal building projects ongoing across the 14-county reservation.

Cherokee Nation Career Services staff will also be on hand at each event to help businesses and contractors become a TERO vendor. Along with the historic housing construction projects planned across the Cherokee Nation Reservation, the tribe is also seeking contractors and businesses to help build new Head Start facilities, expand and remodel outpatient health facilities, and to work on other tribal projects.

The recruitment events will also connect participants to expert Cherokee Nation staff who can help businesses and contractors become a TERO vendor for the tribe. Though Cherokee Nation law allows both Native and non-Native-owned contractors to perform work on tribal construction projects, the Tribal Employment Rights Office – or TERO – provides Native-owned businesses a clear path to becoming TERO-certified, opening the door for these businesses to bid on and potentially be awarded tribal projects.

Participants are encouraged to bring their company information, business cards and resumes or other related documents that can be provided to event staff at various trade booths. For more information, contact Channing Rogers at 918-453-5555 or email [email protected]. Visit the Events tab at www.Facebook.com/TheCherokeeNation for more information or to RSVP. Construction recruitment events are scheduled at the following locations:

• July 27, 2-4 p.m., Cherokee Casino Tahlequah Chota Conference Center, hiring for 15 projects in Cherokee County
• Aug. 10, 2-4 p.m., Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs meeting room, hiring for seven projects in Rogers and Nowata Counties
• Aug. 17, 2-4 p.m., Cherokee Casino & Hotel Roland, hiring for six projects in Sequoyah and Muskogee Counties
• Aug. 24, 2-4 p.m., Cherokee Casino & Hotel West Siloam Springs meeting room, hiring for four projects in Adair County
• Aug. 31, 2-4 p.m., Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa, hiring for two projects in Tulsa and Washington Counties
• Sept. 7, 2-4 p.m., The District at 3882 W. 530 in Pryor, hiring for five projects in Mayes County
• Sept. 14, 2-4 p.m., Cherokee Casino Grove meeting room, hiring for five projects in Craig and Delaware Counties

(Via TVLine) — More 1883 is coming to Paramount+ — just not in the way you may have expected.The streamer announced that its previously ordered Bass Reeves miniseries will in fact be an 1883 offshoot, officially titled 1883: The Bass Reeves Story.

The limited-run project will star Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo (Selma) as Reeves, a legendary lawman of the Wild West. “Known as the greatest frontier hero in American history, and also believed to be the inspiration for The Lone Ranger, Reeves worked in the post-Reconstruction era as a federal peace officer in the Indian Territory, capturing over 3,000 of the most dangerous criminals without ever being wounded,” the logline describes.

Reeves was from the Muskogee area and served the last part of his life as one of Muskogee’s first black police officers. He is widely considered to be the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.

Odus Flatt Jr., 63, of Muskogee drowned over the weekend in a private pool, according to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Flatt drowned in the county south of Muskogee at a house in the 8800 block of S. 24th St. W, just outside Oktaha according to the report.

He was not wearing a personal flotation device.

Friday, July 29th, is the last day to apply for voter registration in order to be eligible to vote in the August 23rd Primary Runoff Election Muskogee County Election Board Secretary Kelly Beach said today.

​Beach said that persons who are United States citizens, residents of Oklahoma, and at least 18 years old may apply to become registered voters.

Those who aren’t registered or need to change their registration may apply by filling out and mailing an Oklahoma Voter Registration Application form in time for it to be postmarked no later than midnight Friday, July 29th.

Beach said applications postmarked after that time will be accepted and processed, but not until after the August 23rd Primary Runoff Election. ​The County Election Board responds in writing to every person who submits an application for voter registration. The response is either a voter identification card listing the new voter’s precinct number and polling place location or a letter that explains the reason or reasons the application for voter registration was not approved. Beach said any person who has submitted a voter registration application and who has not received a response within 30 days should contact the County Election Board office.

Oklahoma Voter Registration Application forms are available at the County Election Board office located at 400 W. Broadway, Rm. 120 in the Muskogee County Service Building, and at most post offices, tag agencies and public libraries in the county. Applications also are available at www.elections.ok.gov.

At 3 pm today, the Board of County Commissioners implemented a burn advisory for Muskogee County due to extreme fire danger.