News

Two die from drowning at Lake Texoma

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, August 13, 2026
An 8-year-old boy who jumped into Lake Texoma on Saturday afternoon in the Willow Springs area in Bryan County died the following evening at Children’s Health Center in Dallas, Texas, the Marine Enforcement Division of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said.
An Ardmore batter swings the bat after Durant Lady Lion pitcher Emma Sherrer fired the ball. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

An Ardmore batter swings the bat after Durant Lady Lion pitcher Emma Sherrer fired the ball. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Durant routs Ardmore in softball opener

Kevin Farr
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The Durant Lady Lions erupted for nine runs in the first inning and junior Emma Sherrer fired a perfect game to spur a 12-0 rout of Ardmore in the fastpitch season opener Monday.
The Pride of Durant marching band wrapped up its band camp last week and shown is junior Carlee Raelynn Smarr, who is the trombone section leader. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

The Pride of Durant marching band wrapped up its band camp last week and shown is junior Carlee Raelynn Smarr, who is the trombone section leader. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Pride of Durant wraps up band camp

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The Pride of Durant band finished band camp last week as they begin to march into the school year. Blake Preston is a junior and co-drum major of the Durant High School Band.
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church had its first Theology on Tap meeting last month at Lost Street Brewing Company and they are meeting again at 6 p.m. Aug. 18. Among those shown are Rev. Eric Saed, pastor of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, who is standing fourth from left. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church had its first Theology on Tap meeting last month at Lost Street Brewing Company and they are meeting again at 6 p.m. Aug. 18. Among those shown are Rev. Eric Saed, pastor of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, who is standing fourth from left. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Church group meets for Bible study at brewery

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Durant is brewing up plans for its second Theology on Tap meeting at Lost Street Brewing Company. The first meeting was July 21 and Theology on Tap is meeting again at 6 p.m.
The rocket slide was removed from Dixon Durant Park in February and it landed back at the park on Monday. Photo by City of Durant

The rocket slide was removed from Dixon Durant Park in February and it landed back at the park on Monday. Photo by City of Durant

Rocket slide lands at Dixon Durant Park

Matt Swearengin
Thursday, August 13, 2026
The iconic rocket slide that has been a fixture at Dixon Durant Park since the 1960s landed again at the park on Monday. The rocket was launched from the park earlier this year for necessary refurbishment to bring it up to safety specifications.

COURT RECORDS

News Staff
Thursday, August 13, 2026
Felonies filed Amandis Levawn Shay, 43, Mead, falsely personate another to create liability. Axcell Hernandez, 20, Durant, DUI.

Want affordable housing? Get government out of the way

Jonathan Small
Friday, August 7, 2026
A recent Pew Research Center survey found that 89 percent of adults under 40 say it’s harder for young adults today to buy a home than it was for their parents’ generation. The reasons for this are varied and complex, but a significant share of the blame lies with the government itself.

The human cost of war: Quiet rooms and empty chairs

Henry Brigman
Friday, August 7, 2026
A tragedy struck my family on December 16, 1947. I was ten years old, and my little sister, Jean, was six. She was returning from a visit with our grandparents who lived across the highway from us. Jean did not see one truck following closely behind another.
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