• The body of an unidentified man was found wrapped in a brown paper bundle near the Henderson hotel road, with only a few cryptic clues – initials, dates and scraps of newspaper – offering any hint of who he might have been. With no money in his pockets and no one able to identify him, he was laid to rest in the Dustin Cemetery on Jan. 13 under the care of Parks Brothers Undertakers. Judge Dohrer asked the public for help, hoping someone might recognize the man and finally give his story a name.

• Mrs. B. Olson of Okmulgee filed suit against the county commissioners after the tax certificates she purchased were canceled due to erroneous assessments. Because the county had no available funds to reimburse her, she sought repayment through the courts for ten properties totaling $709.01 plus interest.

• Street Commissioner Bonar and his crew spent the morning scraping Main Street with the grading machine, pushing the heavy snow back from the curbs so the gutters could carry away the melt. Cars were parked down the center of the street to leave narrow passageways open on either side as the work went on. With the town still blanketed in winter weather, the day also doubled as “rabbit day,” sending local hunters out into the cold for sport.

— 50 Years Ago (1976)

• Members of the Henryetta Riding Club prepared to host a booth at Sixth and Main so residents could sign the national Bicentennial Scroll, a pledge reaffirming the ideals of the Founding Fathers. The scroll would later travel with the Bicentennial Wagon Train to Valley Forge, where it would be sealed in a time capsule. The effort gave Henryettans a chance to take part in the country’s 200th‑anniversary celebration in a personal, symbolic way.

• A string of nighttime fires around Henryetta kept local crews and volunteers working for hours, with Fire Chief Jim Brown reporting that at least some of the blazes were deliberately set. Four separate fires burned near the American Legion, north of town, and south of Nichols Park, with flames covering several miles of land before being brought under control. Witnesses spotted four men in an older Chevrolet setting one of the fires, but the suspects escaped toward Okemah before their license number could be taken.

— 25 Years Ago (2001)

• After the Christmas ice storm left already-damaged county roads in even worse condition, Okmulgee County resident Jack Jamison urged commissioners to consider dedicated countywide sales tax to fund long-term repairs. FEMA assistance would cover only emergency fixes, and commissioners acknowledged that District 1 was especially hardhit. They discussed forming a citizens task force, consulting engineers and creating a permanent funding plan to rebuild roads properly rather than applying temporary patches. The proposal aimed to restore public confidence and ensure the county could maintain its growing northern communities.

— 10 Years Ago (2016)

• Henryetta native and local business owner Sara Wilemon earned a role in Theatre Tulsa’s production of ‘A Chorus Line,’ playing Sheila Bryant, one of the show’s most memorable auditioning dancers. Despite running Wilemon Propane, she has built a devoted fan base through years of stage work, including standout performances like Velma Kelly in ‘Chicago.’ Supporters praised both her talent and the regional theater scene that continued to showcase her work.

• Henryetta’s K-9 Officer Endy was honored at a city council meeting as he retired after eight years of service and hundreds of successful cases. The ten-year-old German Shepherd will now live a pampered life with his handler, Officer Buddy Townes, who described Endy as the highlight of his career. Known for major drug seizures and unwavering loyalty, Endy earned deep respect within the department. Police officials said a new K-9 will be selected soon to continue the vital work he helped establish.