Hugo News

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▼ Oklahoma Today...
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the Hugo 3FQ
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point loses By Rep. Justin Humphrey an
big time... Recently, a measure was filed that had several con-
er
fo
stituents and I of House District 19 very concerned. gr
By Stan Stamper House Bill 3337 would have allowed the sale of water ou
Publisher in Texas. It is my understanding the intent of the bill in
Mar Our column Tuesday took a wrong turn when we
is to capture and sell excess water. Excess water is
water that drains off and flows to Texas. The plan is
be
stated that Soper Rancher Clay Padgett would be
09 facing Drew Edmondson in his race for the Second
to capture the water before it leaves Oklahoma and
sell the excess to Texas.
th
w
Congressional seat. At first glance this may seem like a reasonable C
We need to clarify. plan, but it has numerous problems. ta
Edmondson is running for Governor and Padgett First, who determines if the water is excess? The be
2018 is a Democratic challenger for the Second Congres-
sional seat presently held by Markwayne Mullin, a
answer would likely be the Oklahoma Water Re-
source Board. I personally renamed this board as es
Republican. the Oklahoma City Water Resource Board. Essen- ot
Presently, tially, this board does not seek the best interest of all I
Page Padgett has one of Oklahoma, especially Southeastern Oklahoma. th
announced Demo- Instead, this board caters only to the concerns of the st
A002 cratic challenger,
Jason Nichols,
Oklahoma City area.
Secondly, how would the excess water be cap-
ec
im
who has served tured? Excess water goes back into our ground and
Clip two terms as May- proceeds down the river to our neighborhoods. To in
resized or of Tahlequah measure and capture this water would be a truly cr
and teaches Po- remarkable task. Furthermore, to capture the flowing an
26% litical Science at water without harming District 19 or Southeastern
Northeastern State Oklahoma would likely be impossible.
University in Tahlequah. The third problem is where to hold the water. We D
The winners of the primary races (June 26) will have seen what Oklahoma City has done to our lakes, Ju
square off (with possible Independents) in the No-
vember general election against either Mullin or one
of his challengers. ▼ Kiamichi River Alliance the
——— ma
Since 1973, each and every day, the City of Hugo By Debbie Leo for KRLA ing
has basically “flushed” 25,000,000 (million) gallons
of water down the Kiamichi River. That is water the In the coming months, Kiamichi River Legacy Alli- and
city has “purchased” under a very detailed contract ance has planned some really great events to help save inf
from the U.S. government for municipal and indus- our river. Your contributions from donations and our on
trial purposes. t-shirts, koosies and raffle tickets have broadened our wil
The City of Hugo was blessed back in the 40s- opportunities to save the Kiamichi River.
50s-60s and 70s with leaders with incredible “vi- The upcoming events scheduled at this time are an com
sion.” They were men who looked to the future hop- Indoor Garage Sale and Auction scheduled for March nor
ing to provide adequate water for future generations. 24, (location TBA), a Fishing Tournament on the river
Men like Cecil Peters (a rural mail carrier) fought March 31, time and place TBA and the Riverfest Ben- stil
hard to get Hugo Lake authorized at the federal efit at K River Campground in Moyers, scheduled for
level. Others joined hands with him and worked April 21. ing
very hard to carve out a sensible contract with the Our team of fund raisers has accomplished so the
Corps of Engineers. Lots of hours of hard work much in a short amount of time and you have been her
were expended. very responsive. The progress we make today will be
Sadly, since the 70s, Hugo has not had leaders the future for our next generations. If you would like bri
with that same vision. We have not adequate efforts to volunteer to help at any of these events, go to our nes
to expand our water matrix to include other towns in website, www.kiamichiriver.org and sign up. We will gen
the county (Soper, Boswell, Fort Towson), and now need a lot of volunteers to help us make this spring one mu
they all have rural water districts, some of which to remember along the Kiamichi River.
extend from other counties. The next hearing before the Pushmataha District wa
That’s a shame. Judge is scheduled for April 5 at 9:30 a.m., however lik
The bigger shame is that Hugo has been unable the
to market its 25-million gallons of daily water. (The inf
city uses 1-2 million gallons per day). That’s enough
water for a town of nearly 150,000 people which ▼ To The Point... continued
would be the third largest city in the state if it were
to materialize.
Obviously we don’t have intentions or expecta- Oklahoma passed legis- Kiamichi” and ANY-
tions of becoming that kind of city, but we do want lation forbidding such a ONE who seeks to move
to seek quality jobs for area citizens and to improve sale, and federal courts its water out of the basin
the quality of life for all residents. have ruled that state without appropriate re-
Local leaders have dropped the ball. They have law to be valid, Hugo gional compensation.
not consistently reminded our elected officials of officials have still not We do not appreciate
our enormous surplus and the value it represents for terminated their contract any politician who shows
Hugo and Choctaw County. with Irving, which casts disrespect to the City of
Our elected officials either don’t know, or don’t a legal cloud on the city’s Hugo and its citizens,
care about Hugo’s surplus water situation, because ability to sell this water as to how it chooses to
we don’t make it a priority. That’s our fault. to ANYONE! market its investment
In 2008 the city entered into a contract to sell This is why we do not in water. Representative
water to Irving, Texas, and even though the state of agree with our neighbors Humphrey would be
Continued, above Right...—>
or elected officials who wise to understand the Bu
advocate for NEVER water needs of the largest
Stan Stamper was inducted into the Oklahoma
selling water out of state. city in his district.
Journalism Hall of Fame in 2012. Hugo never sought Part of that disrespect
(and hopefully will not) is not even understand-
to sell water rights... only ing the city’s ownership
HUGO NEWS surplus water... part of
the 25-million gallon
of water or advocating
for its appropriate use.
ESTABLISHED 1907
Successor to Hugo Daily News (USPS # 812-180) surplus that flows under
TELEPHONE: (580) 326-3311 three bridges to the Red
Published Tuesday and Friday. If either of these days coincides with a
River each and every
day... to become worth-
BAN
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less.
THE HUGO PUBLISHING CO. INC. That is an absolute


128 East Jackson, Hugo, OK 74743 shame, for Hugo, for
Periodicals Postage paid at Hugo, OK Oklahoma, and for all of
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Southeast Oklahoma.
We also remind those
STAFF who don’t understand
Stan Stamper President & Publisher that local leaders agreed
Judy Stamper Vice-President to a $1.2 million dollar

on in for
Homer Garrison Production Manager note to the Corps for that
Linda Packard Advertising Manager water storage contract.
Krystle Taylor Editor The contract bears
Jody Rawls Classified / Legals interest compounded
Karen Wood Circulation Asst. at approximately 3.2%
Shea Blair Advertising Sales and that debt continues
Jessie Ivey Advertising Sales to rise. Last time we
Rebecca McHam Advertising Sales checked it was at $4
CUSTOMER SERVICE: Please call our front desk until 5 p.m. nightly million and growing. If
for delivery assistance or to subscribe. never paid, it balloons
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to $18 million at matu-
months; Greater discounts for 6-12 months. rity (75 years). Are local
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