A four-monthold child and Jimmy Johnson, III, of Holdenville were killed in the Saturday night tornado that ripped through Holdenville. Four others were injured and Tyler and Selina Skeen, parents of the four-monthold, remain in the hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time.

I know that many of you are aware of the Hughes County Museum at 124 North Broadway in the old two-story red brick building across from the courthouse lawn. But then again, maybe some folks don’t know about it.

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On the night of September 23, 2023, a severe storm hit Holdenville with strong damaging winds. There has been talk and speculation of it possibly being a tornado that didn’t completely touch down. Damage was severe in the area of Holdenville Cemetery and Holdenville Stroup Park. There was extensive tree damage, and one huge sycamore tree blew over totally uprooting and partially uncovered a grave it was growing on. The tombstone on the grave was turned over, also. Out of curiosity Waylon Ford, the Holdenville Cemetery Sexton, decided to turn the tombstone over and see who’s grave it was. As he tilted the stone backwards the last name of Ford was showing and only the W of the first name due to his hands covering the rest of the name. As his eerie thoughts and feelings of who the grave belonged to flooded his mind, Waylon saw that it was the tombstone of William U. Ford.