News

Toys filled Haggard Hall at the fairgrounds during the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots/Durant Lions Club Lions Toy Box toy giveaway Dec. 20. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Smith, right, was among the many volunteers helping with the event. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Toys filled Haggard Hall at the fairgrounds during the Marine Corps Reserves Toys for Tots/Durant Lions Club Lions Toy Box toy giveaway Dec. 20. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Smith, right, was among the many volunteers helping with the event. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Many children receive toys during Toys for Tots

Matt Swearengin
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves Bryan County Toys for Tots/Durant Lions Club Toy Box giveaway Dec.
A funeral service to celebrate the life of Bennington firefighter Levi Milam was Saturday at Brown’s Funeral Chapel. Milam died in a car accident in Durant. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

A funeral service to celebrate the life of Bennington firefighter Levi Milam was Saturday at Brown’s Funeral Chapel. Milam died in a car accident in Durant. Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat

Service held for Bennington firefighter

Matt Swearengin
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
A funeral service to celebrate the life of Levi Milam was held on Saturday at Brown’s Funeral Home Chapel with a committal service following at Bokchito Cemetery.
Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat Durant Police O_cer Clayton Yarbrough assists Nichelle Nelson and her two children, Sara, 6, and Micah, 5, during Shop with a Cop Dec. 23 at Walmart. The event is by the Durant Police Reserves with assistance from o_cers from dierent departments.

Matt Swearengin | Durant Democrat Durant Police O_cer Clayton Yarbrough assists Nichelle Nelson and her two children, Sara, 6, and Micah, 5, during Shop with a Cop Dec. 23 at Walmart. The event is by the Durant Police Reserves with assistance from o_cers from dierent departments.

Durant Police Reserves provide toys during Shop with a Cop

Matt Swearengin
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
More than 200 children were able to shop for toys during the Durant Police Reserves annual Shop with a Cop at Walmart Dec. 23.

Bennington man killed in head-on crash

Matt Swearengin
Monday, December 22, 2025
A Bennington man was killed Sunday in a head-on crash in Durant, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said, and jail records state the driver of a vehicle involved was intoxicated. Twenty-f ive-year-old Levi W.
Headstones will be restored at Gethsemane Cemetery in Caddo. Matt Swearengin | File photo

Headstones will be restored at Gethsemane Cemetery in Caddo. Matt Swearengin | File photo

Headstone restoration planned for Gethsemane Cemetery

News Staff
Monday, December 22, 2025
Is your loved one a resident of the “Beautiful City of the Dead?” That’s the name used by the early citizens of Caddo, Oklahoma, when referring to their local cemetery. Unfortunately, the beauty and safety of that cemetery is now in jeopardy due to tilting, broken, and fallen headstones.

Let’s meet at the facts

Henry Brigman
Monday, December 22, 2025
One of the best lessons I ever learned came during a college freshman English class. It was 1955, and the teacher’s assignment was for us to write a theme. The topic was to be about the civil rights movement.

COMING EVENTS

News Staff
Monday, December 22, 2025
Feb. 7 Calera Fire-Rescue is having its 51st annual chili dinner from 11 a.m.

COURT RECORDS

News Staff
Monday, December 22, 2025
Felonies filed Chase Edward Knight, 30,Albany, aggravated DUI. Jake Gilford Parrish, 41, Durant, larceny of automobile.
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