Back in black!
TAHLEQUAH - Another holiday shopping season has kicked off, with several area retailers offering sale items the day before Thanksgiving, the night of Thanksgiving, or the more traditional 'Black Friday' after Thanksgiving. A tour of Tahlequah on Friday morning featured packed lots at department stores, including Walmart, Stage and Sharpe's. Briana O'Seland-Ballard, a supervisor at Stage, said the traffic was high for Black Friday. 'We had some excellent deals that people could take advantage of, and that helped get our sales up,' she said. 'It went incredibly smoothly, and was enjoyable for our employees and our customers. Our door-buster deals expired at 1 p.m. [Friday], but our other Black Friday prices are still in effect.' Trent Jones, a manager for Sharpe's, said the store saw an influx of shoppers. 'It was higher than normal, but it wasn't extreme,' he said. 'We did see a really big jump in our sales. Our Carhartt coats are popular, and our Skechers GO Walk shoes are $10 off and going really fast - we will be restocking colors and sizes. Some of our Black Friday deals expire after Saturday, but we will continue a lot of them through the Christmas season.' Some shoppers chose to visit downtown, which, while busy, offered shorter lines. 'I actually haven't started shopping yet,' said Marilyn Kirk, who was enjoying a latte outside The Drip with Stephani Bush and LaDonna McLaughlin. 'I'm planning to go to Cook's Companion and Everything Under the Sun.' Ana Moazami was shopping with her family at Obsession Boutique, one of several stops planned for the day. 'I am actually shopping for myself right now,' Moazami said. 'I've found some sweaters and a scarf.' There may be a perception that people who brave Black Friday crowds must really love shopping, but talk with Tahlequah shoppers revealed no clearance sale addictions - and none had visited Thanksgiving night sales in the area. 'I enjoy Black Friday when it's over,' Bush said. 'When you're actually doing the shopping, you need to keep comments to yourself because you don't want to make someone else mad. Some of the crazies come out to shop today.' Pam Gipson, wife of Northeastern State University women's basketball coach Randy Gipson, said the midnight sales usually offer great bargains. 'If there is a gift you are really wanting for your child, I think it is worth it,' Gipson said. 'But mine is a freshman in college, and I'm done with that.' Lari Moazami agreed that some of the best sales begin on Thanksgiving evening, but she, too, had sworn off them. 'A couple of years ago, I was at Walmart during a Thanksgiving sale,' she said. 'It got pretty wild. People started throwing things, and I got hit in the head with a Crockpot.' Ana, Lari's daughter, described the night sales as 'kind of crazy.' 'I actually recommend waiting until Friday,' she said. 'Or even waiting until Monday, because that's when a lot of places offer deals online. If you don't like shopping, that is much easier.' Bush took advantage of the department store deals, but waited until Friday morning. 'I've been to Walmart to get a $98 TV and a laptop I was wanting,' she said. 'And I'm still Christmas shopping. I won't get it done today - it is an ongoing process. This is just the beginning.'
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE To read an online exclusive the history of Black Friday, go to tahlequahTDP.com.
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Back in black!Another holiday shopping season has kicked off, with several area retailers offering sale items the day before Thanksgiving, the night of Thanksgiving, or the more traditional 'Black Friday' after Thanksgiving. A tour of Tahlequah on Friday morning featured packed lots at department stores, including Walmart, Stage and Sharpe's.
Holidays herald DVD, film, game releasesWith the weather cooling during the holidays, fewer people are spending long hours outdoors, and time with the family is abundant. Among the popular cold-weather activities is gathering the family around the big screen TV and watching a movie together, and that means an upswing in movie rentals. 'It's been nuts since Monday,' said Shane Perry, manager at Reasor's Video. 'The past few weekends have also been busy. When the kids are out of school, we see more people. I think when the adults are cooking for the holidays, when it is too cold outside, they find movies for the kids so they don't get bored.'
Baby killed in vehicle accident
A 1-year-old girl was killed Thanksgiving day in an incident just outside Tahlequah city limits. According to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, October French, a Tahlequah toddler, was taken to Hastings Hospital after the incident occurred Thursday around 5:56 p.m. on Wanetah Drive. She died from head injuries while at the hospital.
Holiday happeningsAs the holiday season in Green Country gets under way full-throttle, families and friends are filling their calendars with seasonal fare. And when it comes to the Cherokee County lineup, the phrase 'home for the holidays' takes on a whole new meaning. Special events and ongoing activities, like ice-skating at Snowflake '14, just south of Norris Park, make downtown Tahlequah a prime destination.
Accused killer back in hospital, may be near death
A 49-year-old man accused of murder in the death of a 3-year-old boy was back in a Tahlequah hospital Wednesday. First Assistant District Attorney Jack Thorp said Buford Ellison's health has continued to deteriorate since he and Jeri Danyce Sanders were arrested Nov. 19. Sanders' son, Dakota, was found dead that morning, and the couple were arrested after an investigation by Tahlequah detectives.
Thanksgiving leftovers yummy, but they must be stored safelyFor many families, Thanksgiving means a plateful of delicious food - for several days. Because nobody hosting a Thanksgiving feast wants to run out of servings, food is prepared in substantial amounts, inevitably resulting in leftovers. Heather Winn, a family and consumer science educator for the Cherokee County Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service, said eating leftovers avoids waste and extends food budgets, but they must be handled safely.
Doctor: ER care not always available, or cheapNow that the Affordable Care Act is in its first phase of implementation, problems with the enrollment process have some folks concerned about the law's effectiveness in providing care to the poor. The Oklahoma Legislature, at Gov. Mary Fallin's insistence, refused to expand its Medicare program to include 9,000 slated to fall into an insurance 'crater' beginning in 2014. In an earlier Daily Press report, Rep. Mike Brown, D-Tahlequah, said the Oklahoma Legislature has no plan in place to deal with the issue of the many Oklahomans who will lose their insurance at the end of the year.
Authorities on lookout for new meth methodsLocal authorities believe they've seen a recent shift in the type of methamphetamine being used and distributed in Cherokee County. National Methamphetamine Awareness Day is Nov. 30, part of a larger effort across the country to curb the use and sale of the drug and to educate the public about its effects. 'I think we have a meth problem in our county just like in most counties in the country,' said Tahlequah Police Chief Nate King. 'You can find meth and meth labs anywhere, any day. As police officers, we can't afford to come up with a social profile for where we think meth will be. We have to have our eyes open.' Cherokee County Undersheriff Jason Chennault said meth has been found in many places, 'from nice neighborhoods to the slums.'
Shops ready for Black FridayA source of excitement for some, and apprehension for others, Black Friday looms. The day after Thanksgiving is one of the busiest shopping days of the year. Many begin their Christmas shopping, and businesses and bargain-hunters are making preparations to deal with the crush of holiday traffic.
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