Jake jumps on trampolines by himself. He just needs a home.

Trivia Question❓

In what year was the City of Okmulgee, Oklahoma officially incorporated?

Answer at the bottom of the newsletter

Salisbury Steak with Mushroom Gravy #sororitychef

This newsletter sponsored by

Boom-A-Rang Diner

Boom-A-Rang Diner is a beloved spot in Okmulgee, serving up classic American fare with a nostalgic, 50s-style charm that feels like coming home.

Known for their delicious burgers and all-day breakfast, it's a place where neighbors can gather for a satisfying meal in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. Whether you're craving a stack of pancakes for dinner or a perfectly cooked cheeseburger for lunch, their menu has something for the whole family. This spotlight is presented by Boom-A-Rang Diner. As a dedicated Oklahoma-based restaurant, they are proud to be a part of our local community. For a taste of timeless comfort food, you can check out their menu and stop by for a visit!

"Meet Jake: The Resilient Brindle Boy Fighting for His Second Chance"

There's a dog at the Okmulgee County Humane Society who jumps on trampolines by himself and runs down the slide at the playground.

His name is Jake, and he is looking for a home.

Jake is a 2.5-year-old brindle Plott Hound mix (think tiger stripes, 47 pounds, and a personality that will make you laugh out loud).

He's house-trained, crate-trained, knows basic commands, plays fetch like a pro, and bonds hard with his people.

He was adopted from the humane society two years ago and recently returned after some conflicts with small dogs in his previous home. But here's the thing... since coming back, staff have seen a different side of Jake.

He's doing great with dogs his own size. He's calm around cats.

He's social, playful, and ready to connect.

He does best in a home without small pets, but he might be exactly what someone in Okmulgee County has been looking for.

If that someone is you, or if you know someone who needs a funny, athletic, affectionate dog with tiger stripes in their life, go read the full story.

Read the full story in The Okmulgee Spotlight

Joke Of The Day

Why did the Okmulgee football team go to the bank?

To get their quarterback!

You Might Have Seen the Film Crews Around Town a Few Years Back. That Was Just the Beginning.

Remember seeing camera crews set up around Okmulgee a few years ago?

That was Reservation Dogs, the critically acclaimed FX series that went on to win awards and earn fans all across the country.

A show about rural Oklahoma life, filmed right here on our streets.

People everywhere watched that show and saw Okmulgee, even if they didn't know it by name.

Now the city is making it official. Okmulgee just launched a brand new film incentive program a formal package designed to bring more productions just like that one right back to our community.

We're talking a 10% sales tax rebate for qualifying productions, an additional 5% if they hire local crew or feature Okmulgee landmarks, reduced permit fees, and dedicated support from the Okmulgee Film Office.

More productions mean more local jobs, more money moving through local businesses, and more of Okmulgee's story being told on screens across the country.

This is a big deal. And it's just getting started.

👉 Read the full story in The Okmulgee Spotlight

For 24 years Gabby Clark walked into rooms full of the youngest, most vulnerable kids imaginable.

Children with disabilities. Developmental differences. Communication challenges that most people wouldn't know how to begin addressing.

She helped them find their voices — one small breakthrough at a time.

She had a gift for recognizing early signs of autism before most people even knew what to look for. She showed up every single day for kids and families who needed someone in their corner.

Then in 2015 health complications from Type 1 diabetes forced her into retirement. COVID brought isolation. Life looked different than she'd planned.

About four years ago she moved to Baptist Village right here in Okmulgee. And something shifted.

Today she describes it as caring and welcoming. A place full of friends. A community that made room for her.

She also has a cat named Malachi who jumps into the refrigerator. (But that's a detail best saved for the full story).

Some people in this community have entire lifetimes worth knowing about. Gabby Clark is one of them.

👉 Read the full story in The Okmulgee Spotlight

Mike Schmitt grew up with almost nothing.

Poverty. A difficult home life. A childhood in 1950s Chicago that could've broken most kids before they ever got started.

But he found hockey, (and hockey gave him a way out).

He fought his way through the minor leagues, earned a spot at an NHL training camp with the St. Louis Blues, and was days away from living the dream he'd been chasing his whole life.

Then a torn ligament ended it all before it could begin.

Most people would've walked away bitter. Mike Schmitt turned around and spent the rest of his career coaching young players, always positive, always encouraging, always the person in their corner that he never had growing up.

Recently inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame, Schmitt stopped in Okmulgee last week for a book signing at the Donut Top, sharing his story, signing copies of his autobiography, and reminding everyone in the room that where you start doesn't have to be where you finish.

His book is worth your time. Especially if you know a young person who needs to hear it.

👉 Read the full story in the Okmulgee Spotlight

Rural Oklahoma has always had a job market problem that nobody in the city quite understands.

It's not that people don't want to work. It's that the advice, the resources, and the job listings are all written for someone who lives twenty minutes from a major city.

That's not us.

But a program built specifically for communities like Okmulgee is quietly changing that, helping rural job seekers identify their real skills, build confidence, and connect to jobs that pay self-sustaining wages.

Including remote jobs you can do right here from home.

WorkReady Oklahoma runs a free 5-day workshop that walks participants through everything from identifying their strengths to building a master application that works for any job opening.

The Okmulgee site has been running since the program launched in 2024 — and the results are already showing.

Whether you're looking for work yourself, know someone who is, or just want to understand what resources are available right here in our community (this one is worth reading).

And this is just part one. We'll be following the story as it develops.

Q/A Questions

Q: What are some popular attractions in Okmulgee, Oklahoma?

A: The Creek Council House, Okmulgee Lake, and the Deep Fork National Wildlife Refuge are popular attractions in Okmulgee.

Q: Is Okmulgee, Oklahoma a safe place to live?

A: Overall, Okmulgee has a mixed reputation in terms of safety, with some areas being safer than others. It's always recommended to do thorough research before moving to any new area.

Q: What is the cost of living like in Okmulgee, Oklahoma?

A: The cost of living in Okmulgee is lower than the national average, with affordable housing prices and reasonable costs for goods and services.

Let's Ride Paint Party

📅 Tuesday, April 22nd | 🕒 6:30 – 8:30 PM | 📍 Tavern 56 — 102 S Morton Ave, Okmulgee | 🎟️ $35 (Prepayment Required)

If you've ever wanted to paint a Harley, this is your night. Artist Tabitha Rene'e is hosting a fun, guided paint party at Tavern 56 — a bar and grill with great food, great atmosphere, and great staff. You'll paint a pre-drawn Harley with all supplies included, and food and drinks will be available for purchase at the party. Only 10 spots available, so don't wait — send $35 to paypal.me/tabithabarnes (Venmo and Cash App also accepted) and be sure to include which class you're paying for in the comment section. See you there!

Sunflower and Books Paint Party

📅 Thursday, April 24th | 🕒 6:30 – 8:30 PM | 📍 Sweet Magnolia on Mort, Okmulgee | 🎟️ $35 (Prepayment Required)

Grab your girlfriends and make a night of it. Artist Tabitha Rene'e is teaming up with Sweet Magnolia on Mort — Okmulgee's boutique oasis where shopping meets self-care and Southern charm is always in style. You'll paint a pre-drawn Sunflower and Books canvas with all supplies provided, so no experience needed. Only 10 seats available and prepayment is required to lock yours in — send $35 to paypal.me/tabithabarnes (or message Tabitha for Venmo or Cash App) and be sure to include which class you're paying for in the comment section. See you there!

Spaghetti Dinner & Raffle Fundraiser — Landmark for All Generations

📅 Monday, April 20th | 🕒 5:00–8:00 PM | 📍 Elks Lodge 1822, Okmulgee | 🎟️ $10 in advance / $12 at the door

Landmark for All Generations is working to restore Okmulgee's first "colored hospital" -- a historic 1922 building on the National Register of Historic Places -- and turn it into a cultural center and museum for the whole community. This spaghetti dinner and raffle is one of the ways they're making that happen. Tickets are $10 in advance (pick them up at The Okmulgee Times, from a board member, or online via PayPal) or $12 at the door. Come out, eat good, and be part of something that matters.

Okmulgee County Community Garden — Spring Plant Sale, Equipment Demo & Work Day

📅 Friday, April 10 & Saturday, April 11 | 🕒 Plant Sale 9 AM – 2 PM both days | Demo 10 AM – 12 PM Saturday | 📍 1206 S. Belmont, Okmulgee | 🎟️ Free

Spring has officially arrived at the Okmulgee County Community Garden -- and they're making it a whole weekend.

Head out to 1206 S. Belmont (just west of the Muscogee Creek Nation Medical Center) on Friday, April 10 or Saturday, April 11 for their annual plant sale, running 9 AM to 2 PM both days.

Garden members have spent the last few weeks propagating a seriously impressive variety of plants.

Vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, and kale; herbs like Pineapple Sage and lemon balm; native plants like Coral Honeysuckle; houseplants like Boston Ferns, Pothos, and succulents; and landscaping plants like variegated Liriope and mixed-color Iris.

Something for every kind of gardener.

Then on Saturday morning from 10 AM to noon, Jim Shaw -- owner of Cedar Farm in Sand Springs and a BCS dealer for nearly 20 years -- will be on-site demonstrating the BCS Two-Wheel Tractor and its attachments.

It's put together in collaboration with the College of the Muscogee Nation Extension Service, and Jim will stick around to answer questions too.

Free hot dogs with all the fixings, chips, and a drink are on the house for anyone who shows up for the demo.

Garden members, Saturday is also a work day -- the expansion project is still rolling and there's plenty to do.

Questions about any of it? Reach Bob Seebeck at 918-231-3543.

Restorative Yoga Tonight at Laci's Nutrition Shoppe

📅 Tonight — April 7th | 🕒 6:00 PM | 📍 Laci's Nutrition Shoppe — 112 N. Morton Ave., Okmulgee | 🎟️ $20 (Prepay Required)

Two spots. Tonight. That's it. Connie is leading a Restorative Yoga session at Laci's Nutrition Shoppe and if your body has been begging you to slow down, this is your moment. Prepay to lock in your spot -- CashApp $LJSlape, PayPal @LJFitness18, or stop by the shop and pay cash or check. Questions? Message Laci directly on Facebook. Don't sit on this one.

"Honeymoon at Graveside Manor" at the Orpheum Theatre

📅 April 10th & 11th | 🕒 April 10: 7:30 PM / April 11: 2:00 PM & 7:30 PM | 📍 Orpheum Theatre, 210 W 7th St, Okmulgee | 🎟️ Tickets available

Okmulgee Community Theatre is bringing the laughs with "Honeymoon at Graveside Manor," a ghostly farce by Pat Cook. Whether you catch the Thursday evening show or one of Friday's performances, you're in for a night of comedy at the historic Orpheum Theatre—entertaining area citizens by stage or screen since 1920. Grab your tickets and settle in for some spooky, silly fun right here in downtown Okmulgee!

Downtown Okmulgee Clean Up with Bloomfield Main Street

📅 Wednesday, May 21st | 🕒 5:30 PM | 📍 Meet at Main Street Office, Downtown Okmulgee | 🎟️ Free (volunteers needed!)

Roll up your sleeves and help make downtown shine! Bloomfield Main Street is rallying volunteers to clean up and spruce up our downtown area—and they're making it worth your while with drinks from Beyoutiful Nutrition and snacks from Mimi's Kitchen. Bring comfortable clothes, gloves, and yard tools if you have them (rakes, weed eaters, leaf blowers). Sign up at the link so they know how many goodies to have ready: volunteer sign-up form. Let's show some love to the heart of our town!

New Pilates Class at the Okmulgee County Family YMCA

📅 Every Thursday | 🕒 4:30 PM | 📍 Studio 2 — Okmulgee County Family YMCA | 🎟️ YMCA Membership Required

Pilates is basically built for women who want to feel strong without beating themselves up — and now there's a class right here in Okmulgee. Karsen leads this low-impact, total-body workout every Thursday in Studio 2, and it's open to all fitness levels. Whether you're just getting started or shaking up your routine, come give it a try.

Okmulgee Elks Bingo Night

📅 Every Tuesday | 🕒 Early Birds 6:00 PM / Regular Rounds 7:00 PM | 📍 Okmulgee Elks Lodge | 🎟️ Everyone welcome!

Bring your daubers, your lucky charms, and your friends for a Tuesday night tradition at the Elks Lodge. Cash prizes are up for grabs starting with Early Birds at 6:00 PM, followed by Regular Rounds at 7:00 PM. The venue is non-smoking, has concessions and an ATM on-site, so all you need to bring is your game face and maybe a little luck!

Family Story-Time at Okmulgee Library

📅 Every 1st & 3rd Monday | 🕒 6:30 PM | 📍 Okmulgee Library, Children's Section | 🎟️ Free (everyone welcome!)

Cozy up for an evening of stories at the Okmulgee Library! Bring the kids, bring a friend, and bring a floor pillow if you'd like—Ms. Ivy and the library crew are ready to share some great reads twice a month. Dress comfy, leave the snacks at home (library rules!), and settle in for quality story-time. Questions? Call (918) 304-5204 and ask for Ms. Ivy.

Line Dancing (All Ages) with OklaMOTION Dance Studio

📅 Every Monday | 🕒 5:30 PM - 6:15 PM | 📍 408 W Main, Henryetta | 🎟️ $5 per person

Just a short drive to Henryetta, and you'll be boot-scootin' with neighbors of all ages and skill levels. Whether you've never line danced a day in your life or you know every step to "Copperhead Road," this 45-minute class set to country music is designed for everyone. Spots fill up fast, so book ahead at oklahomadancestudio.as.me or email oklamotiondance@gmail.com to reserve your spot and pay in person.

Okmulgee Livestock Auction

📅 Every 2nd & 4th Tuesday | 🕒 6:30 PM | 📍 13449 Birch Rd, Okmulgee | 🎟️ Free to attend

Whether you're buying, selling, or just watching the action, the Okmulgee Livestock Auction is a twice-monthly tradition for cattle, horse, sheep, and goat sales. You can check in livestock Sundays, Mondays, and all day Tuesday until sale time—and a yardman is always on-site to help you load and unload. Hay and clean water provided at no extra charge. Questions? Call (918) 752-5212.

Secret Little Hack

Visit the Okmulgee Public Library for free access to various online resources, including eBooks, audiobooks, and digital magazines.

💡 Answer to Trivia Question:

Okmulgee, Oklahoma was officially incorporated as a city in 1900.