Students from Southeastern performaned at the Oklahoma chapter conference and student auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing in Chickasha. Photo provided

Durant firefighters are shown at the scene of a crash involving five vehicles Monday afternoon in the northbound lanes of Highway 69/75. According to Durant Police, inattentive driving is the suspected cause and there also was a temporary lane closure with tra slowed down or stopped. Two people were taken to the hospital for injuries that were not life threatening. The accident backed up tra for miles until police and firefighters cleared the scene. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

James Batchelor, who was the grandfather of Mark and Matt Swearengin, is shown in this 1961 photo. Batchelor was an attorney in Durant.

Assistant Dean of Students O.L. Kelly, Chancellor Sean Burrage, Cora McKinney, Carson Joe Veenstra, and Rodger Nixon are shown at the Oklahoma’s Promise program. Photos provided

Dr. David Whitlock presents J. Scott Crain, Chase Crain (far left), and Drew Crain (far right) with a plaque honoring their 2026 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education’s Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award.

Mark Mesiti-Miller of the Durant Sustainability coalition was one of the volunteers who removed invasive species from the stream near Schuler Park. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat