News

The Dale Lady Pirates celebrate with a dogpile after winning the Class 4A Slow Pitch State Championship at FireLake Ball Fields on May 5. The Lady Pirates narrowly beat Silo, 18-17, as well as Coalgate, 14-5, and Howe, 15-0. They end their season with a record of 39-4. See next week's Countywide & Sun (May 14, 2026) for the full story and more photos. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

The Dale Lady Pirates celebrate with a dogpile after winning the Class 4A Slow Pitch State Championship at FireLake Ball Fields on May 5. The Lady Pirates narrowly beat Silo, 18-17, as well as Coalgate, 14-5, and Howe, 15-0. They end their season with a record of 39-4. See next week's Countywide & Sun (May 14, 2026) for the full story and more photos. Natasha Dunagan, Countywide & Sun

4A STATE CHAMPIONS: Dale Lady Pirates Celebrate!

News Staff
Thursday, May 7, 2026
Tecumseh fire brings support from all around

Tecumseh fire brings support from all around

Tecumseh fire brings support from all around

News Staff
Thursday, May 7, 2026
A structure fire at the Jordan Contractor's mechanic shop on May 6 brought fire and rescue responders from Shawnee, Bethel, Earlsboro and Tecumseh, as well as Absentee and CPN Tribal officers to help barricade the area around 4th Street and Maple in downtown Tecumseh.
Bethel Superintendent Dr. Matt Posey Photo provided

Bethel Superintendent Dr. Matt Posey Photo provided

Posey honored as Dist. 9 Superintendent of the Year

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Shawnee, OK (April 24, 2026) – The Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA) is pleased to announce Dr. Matt Posey of Bethel Public Schools as the 2026 OASA District 9 Superintendent of the Year. Dr.
Jason Marshall

Jason Marshall

Suspect flees traffic stop, search continues

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
On Tuesday morning, while one member of the Emergency Management Office was at the weekly County Commissioners’ Meeting, two others were providing drone support to the Sheriff’s Office during a manhunt in Dale.
Grove Superintendent Mark Bowlan addresses the Board of County Commissioners. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

Grove Superintendent Mark Bowlan addresses the Board of County Commissioners. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

School investments continue despite public criticism

Suzie Campbell Suzie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, April 30, 2026
The Pottawatomie County Board of County Commissioners met on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and handled a full agenda that ranged from public criticism of a building purchase to school construction projects, funding transfers, and emergency management updates.
Attorney Joe Vorndran attempts to clarify the proposed processed for consolidating bank accounts. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

Attorney Joe Vorndran attempts to clarify the proposed processed for consolidating bank accounts. Suzie Campbell, Countywide & Sun

SCCDA moves to consolidate bank accounts, prepares for audit and dissolution

Suzie Campbell Suzie@countywidenews.com
Thursday, April 30, 2026
The Shawnee Civic and Cultural Development Authority (SCCDA) Board of Trustees used a special meeting to approve prior minutes and take key steps toward consolidating bank accounts as the trust moves toward dissolution and an upcoming audit.
Earlsboro students pause from their County Buildings Tour to pose with a photo of HN (FMF) Eric D. Warren, the son of one of their teachers. Warren passed away on May 26, 2012, while serving in Afghanistan; he was 23 years old. Photos by Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Earlsboro students pause from their County Buildings Tour to pose with a photo of HN (FMF) Eric D. Warren, the son of one of their teachers. Warren passed away on May 26, 2012, while serving in Afghanistan; he was 23 years old. Photos by Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Earlsboro, Tecumseh students tour county buildings

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Artist Marcia Crook poses with Amanda Johnson, after Johnson chose her artwork, at the annual "Off the Wall" event at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on April 24. See full cutline below.

Artist Marcia Crook poses with Amanda Johnson, after Johnson chose her artwork, at the annual "Off the Wall" event at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on April 24. See full cutline below.

MGMoA hosts annual '"Off The Wall" event

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026
Artist Marcia Crook poses with Amanda Johnson, after Johnson chose her artwork, at the annual 'Off the Wall' event at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art on April 24. Around "200 people attended, and we raised about $11,000," said MGMoA Director of Development Sylwia Partyka in an email.
Pictured right, Shawnee's Lane Cowan poses with a helmet he made and sold at the Fifth Annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Faire held behind Shawnee Mall on April 25-26. Cowan says he will gladly participate again next time and bring more inventory, as he almost sold out. All booth owners were required to dress up for the event that brought out quite a crowd. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Pictured right, Shawnee's Lane Cowan poses with a helmet he made and sold at the Fifth Annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Faire held behind Shawnee Mall on April 25-26. Cowan says he will gladly participate again next time and bring more inventory, as he almost sold out. All booth owners were required to dress up for the event that brought out quite a crowd. Julie Talton, Countywide & Sun

Fifth annual Secret Garden Medieval and Fantasy Faire

News Staff
Thursday, April 30, 2026