McCurtain County Community Pushing For Speedy Investigation Into County Officials

The McCurtain County community is ready to take their concerns to the Oklahoma State Capitol. The concerns stem from the release of audio files by the McCurtain County Gazette that revealed county officials talking about killing journalists and lynching black people.

“It’s about accountability,” said Lonnie Watson, who lives and teaches in McCurtain County. “These officials are elected by us; they’re elected by the people.”

Governor Kevin Stitt called for the resignation of four officials allegedly heard in those files. Commissioner Mark Jennings resigned, and jail administrator Larry Hendrix has been placed on administrative leave.

However, investigator Alicia Manning and Sheriff Kevin Clardy have yet to resign, Clardy claiming the audio files were altered and illegally obtained. The Oklahoma attorney general’s office has asked the OSBI to expand its investigation into additional violations by the sheriff.

“The folks of McCurtain County kind of feel like the office has failed them,” said Idabel Mayor Craig Young.

Young, who has been outspoken about the investigation, said the community is hoping for the investigation to speed up.

“If nothing is done in the next couple of weeks or so there will be a protest at the state capitol,” he said.

A planned rally with civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, Sr. was canceled on Friday due to health reasons. Jackson was expected to address the investigation in McCurtain County. Even though the rally was scrapped, Young said his county won’t sit idle.

“As a county, we can't afford to let this die, I mean there are already rumors that this is starting to affect our economy here so the folks of McCurtain County cannot afford to let this die.”

According to Mayor Young, the rally has been postponed to June 9.