Water is being restored. If you have any issues please contact City Hall! Thank you for your patience!
Water leak on the Northwest side of town. Water pressure may be low to none for the next hour. Hopefully everything will be back to normal by 10am. If you experience any issues please contact the City Hall. Thank you for your patience!
New Corn Hole bags at Rainbolt Family Corner!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Checotah Announces Promotion of Laurie Burkhalter to Finance Director
CHECOTAH, OK – [August 14, 2025] – The City of Checotah is pleased to announce the promotion of Mrs. Laurie Burkhalter to the position of Finance Director. Mrs. Burkhalter has served as Asst. Deputy City Clerk for the past year and has quickly demonstrated her commitment, expertise, and leadership within city operations.
In making the announcement, Mayor Daniel Tarkington praised Mrs. Burkhalter’s contributions, saying, “Though she’s only been with the city a short period of time, Laurie has stepped in and proven herself to be an invaluable asset to our city government. She has taken on many roles already, and has met or exceeded our every expectation. Her diverse professional experience and her connection to the community make her an ideal fit for this important position.”
Mrs. Burkhalter, a lifelong Checotah resident and graduate of Checotah High School’s Class of 1990, brings a wealth of professional and civic experience to her new role. She worked for 12 years at First Family Federal Credit Union in Checotah, including 10 years as Branch Manager, and is a graduate of Southwest CUNA (Credit Union National Association) Management School. She served 7.5 years on the Checotah Board of Education, including four years as president, and has been a trustee of the Checotah Industrial Development Authority since 2019. Mrs. Burkhalter has also been active in the Checotah Chamber of Commerce since 2014, serving three years as president and currently as secretary. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northeastern State University.
Her service to the City of Checotah began on May 3, 2024. Since beginning her employment with the city, she was given the title of the city’s Investment Officer last fall and, most recently, assumed the role of HR Manager earlier this year. She has also taken it upon herself to be trained in municipal court clerkship. She recently completed the Oklahoma Municipal League’s Community Leadership Development Class 12 and will graduate on September 9, 2025 at the OML conference.
Mrs. Burkhalter and her husband, Jerome, make their home in the Central High community southeast of Checotah. They have one daughter, Taylor Cone, who is a teacher in Checotah Public Schools.
“I truly appreciate the opportunity to continue serving my hometown, and the trust placed in me by the mayor and city council,” Mrs. Burkhalter said. “I love Checotah, and I pledge to take my fiduciary responsibilities extremely seriously. I’m proud to be a part of a wonderful team of committed public employees and officials.”
City of Checotah Announces Promotion of Laurie Burkhalter to Finance Director
CHECOTAH, OK – [August 14, 2025] – The City of Checotah is pleased to announce the promotion of Mrs. Laurie Burkhalter to the position of Finance Director. Mrs. Burkhalter has served as Asst. Deputy City Clerk for the past year and has quickly demonstrated her commitment, expertise, and leadership within city operations.
In making the announcement, Mayor Daniel Tarkington praised Mrs. Burkhalter’s contributions, saying, “Though she’s only been with the city a short period of time, Laurie has stepped in and proven herself to be an invaluable asset to our city government. She has taken on many roles already, and has met or exceeded our every expectation. Her diverse professional experience and her connection to the community make her an ideal fit for this important position.”
Mrs. Burkhalter, a lifelong Checotah resident and graduate of Checotah High School’s Class of 1990, brings a wealth of professional and civic experience to her new role. She worked for 12 years at First Family Federal Credit Union in Checotah, including 10 years as Branch Manager, and is a graduate of Southwest CUNA (Credit Union National Association) Management School. She served 7.5 years on the Checotah Board of Education, including four years as president, and has been a trustee of the Checotah Industrial Development Authority since 2019. Mrs. Burkhalter has also been active in the Checotah Chamber of Commerce since 2014, serving three years as president and currently as secretary. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Northeastern State University.
Her service to the City of Checotah began on May 3, 2024. Since beginning her employment with the city, she was given the title of the city’s Investment Officer last fall and, most recently, assumed the role of HR Manager earlier this year. She has also taken it upon herself to be trained in municipal court clerkship. She recently completed the Oklahoma Municipal League’s Community Leadership Development Class 12 and will graduate on September 9, 2025 at the OML conference.
Mrs. Burkhalter and her husband, Jerome, make their home in the Central High community southeast of Checotah. They have one daughter, Taylor Cone, who is a teacher in Checotah Public Schools.
“I truly appreciate the opportunity to continue serving my hometown, and the trust placed in me by the mayor and city council,” Mrs. Burkhalter said. “I love Checotah, and I pledge to take my fiduciary responsibilities extremely seriously. I’m proud to be a part of a wonderful team of committed public employees and officials.”
Water has been restored. Water pressures should begin to become normal. If you still experience little to no pressure through the night please contact the Checotah PD they will be able to reach the Water Dept. Thank you for your patience.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
City of Checotah Announces Hiring of First Full-Time Fire Chief, Greg Carmack
Checotah, OK – [August 13, 2025] – The City of Checotah is proud to announce the hiring of Mr. Greg Carmack as the city’s first full-time Fire Chief, marking a historic step forward for the community’s public safety services.
Chief Carmack was selected for his proven leadership and deep dedication to the Checotah Fire Department and the citizens it serves. He first joined the Checotah Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) in 2001 as a volunteer fireman and went on to serve as its Chief from 2011 to 2025. While leading the CVFD, Chief Carmack was also employed as a full-time firefighter for the City of Okmulgee for the past 17 years, including the last 8 years as a company officer. In addition, he has served for several years as an instructor with OSU Fire Service Training.
A graduate of Edmond Memorial High School, Greg is a long-time resident of Checotah, and he and his wife, Misty, have called the city home for over 25 years, raising three daughters and welcoming five grandchildren. He is a former local business owner with deep ties to the community. During his tenure as Volunteer Fire Chief, he led numerous trainings that resulted in multiple certifications for Checotah’s firefighters.
As the first full-time Fire Chief, Chief Carmack will lead the department into a new era, beginning the process of potentially employing full-time firemen for the City of Checotah at some point in the future.
Mayor Daniel Tarkington expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating:
“We are very excited to bring Greg back to the Checotah Fire Department. He has a proven record of leading the department, and with his appointment as the first full-time Fire Chief, we’re committed to giving him and the department the resources and support to continue advancing the department by empowering our exceptional group of volunteer firemen. This opportunity came about primarily due to some staffing changes within the city, and the city council and I felt those circumstances presented us with the perfect opportunity to strategically realign some positions.”
Chief Carmack will also serve as the city’s Emergency Manager, filling the role formerly held by Marcus Cunningham, who recently transitioned to the private sector. Mayor Tarkington further noted that Chief Carmack will assist in overseeing the city’s ambulance service, Checotah EMS, on at least a short-term basis, with the potential for eventual integration of EMS with the Fire Department under the banner of “Checotah Fire and Rescue.” However, any such change would still be a few years away, if deemed feasible and endorsed by the city council.
“In the coming months, I’ll be working with Chief Carmack, our firemen and EMTs, and the city council to create a clearly defined long-term vision for the city’s emergency operations,” Mayor Tarkington said. “We believe this hiring decision demonstrates our commitment to developing that vision.”
In accepting the role, Chief Carmack expressed gratitude and excitement:
“I want to begin by saying thank you to the City of Eufaula for giving me the opportunity to serve as Fire Chief, even if only for a short time. Eufaula is a great community with wonderful people, and I wish them and their department nothing but the best going forward. I will welcome the opportunity to continue working with them to improve our county. This was just a unique opportunity, as Checotah is my hometown, and I’m thrilled to be back serving as the Fire Chief—this time in a full-time capacity—where I get to continue working with a truly great group of firemen who are devoted to selflessly serving their community. I look forward to beginning this new phase in my professional life, as well as being a part of a new era for the Checotah Fire Department.”
City of Checotah Announces Hiring of First Full-Time Fire Chief, Greg Carmack
Checotah, OK – [August 13, 2025] – The City of Checotah is proud to announce the hiring of Mr. Greg Carmack as the city’s first full-time Fire Chief, marking a historic step forward for the community’s public safety services.
Chief Carmack was selected for his proven leadership and deep dedication to the Checotah Fire Department and the citizens it serves. He first joined the Checotah Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) in 2001 as a volunteer fireman and went on to serve as its Chief from 2011 to 2025. While leading the CVFD, Chief Carmack was also employed as a full-time firefighter for the City of Okmulgee for the past 17 years, including the last 8 years as a company officer. In addition, he has served for several years as an instructor with OSU Fire Service Training.
A graduate of Edmond Memorial High School, Greg is a long-time resident of Checotah, and he and his wife, Misty, have called the city home for over 25 years, raising three daughters and welcoming five grandchildren. He is a former local business owner with deep ties to the community. During his tenure as Volunteer Fire Chief, he led numerous trainings that resulted in multiple certifications for Checotah’s firefighters.
As the first full-time Fire Chief, Chief Carmack will lead the department into a new era, beginning the process of potentially employing full-time firemen for the City of Checotah at some point in the future.
Mayor Daniel Tarkington expressed enthusiasm about the appointment, stating:
“We are very excited to bring Greg back to the Checotah Fire Department. He has a proven record of leading the department, and with his appointment as the first full-time Fire Chief, we’re committed to giving him and the department the resources and support to continue advancing the department by empowering our exceptional group of volunteer firemen. This opportunity came about primarily due to some staffing changes within the city, and the city council and I felt those circumstances presented us with the perfect opportunity to strategically realign some positions.”
Chief Carmack will also serve as the city’s Emergency Manager, filling the role formerly held by Marcus Cunningham, who recently transitioned to the private sector. Mayor Tarkington further noted that Chief Carmack will assist in overseeing the city’s ambulance service, Checotah EMS, on at least a short-term basis, with the potential for eventual integration of EMS with the Fire Department under the banner of “Checotah Fire and Rescue.” However, any such change would still be a few years away, if deemed feasible and endorsed by the city council.
“In the coming months, I’ll be working with Chief Carmack, our firemen and EMTs, and the city council to create a clearly defined long-term vision for the city’s emergency operations,” Mayor Tarkington said. “We believe this hiring decision demonstrates our commitment to developing that vision.”
In accepting the role, Chief Carmack expressed gratitude and excitement:
“I want to begin by saying thank you to the City of Eufaula for giving me the opportunity to serve as Fire Chief, even if only for a short time. Eufaula is a great community with wonderful people, and I wish them and their department nothing but the best going forward. I will welcome the opportunity to continue working with them to improve our county. This was just a unique opportunity, as Checotah is my hometown, and I’m thrilled to be back serving as the Fire Chief—this time in a full-time capacity—where I get to continue working with a truly great group of firemen who are devoted to selflessly serving their community. I look forward to beginning this new phase in my professional life, as well as being a part of a new era for the Checotah Fire Department.”
Reminder that the Checotah Water department will be shutting off the main water line to Checotah tonight @8pm to make final tie ins on the new water line project. Thank you for your patience! Possibly will take up to 4 hours to complete.
Water dept will be shutting down the water Wednesday night at 8pm. They will be finishing the tie ins for the new water project. The water will be shut off at 8pm and off till about midnight! Thank you with your patience!
7am to 1pm. Free setup. No livestock or animals.
We will be installing some new tornado sirens in Checotah. There is a possibility that you will hear some test sounds throughout the day today.
If your student has signed up for little league football or cheer they need to be at Wildcat Welcome at the HS football field. The event starts at 6pm.
Water has been restored in the area of NE Knisley. If you have any issues please call City Hall. Thank you for your patience!
There is a water leak on NE Knisley. You may experience low to no water pressure for the next couple hours while the line is fixed. We hope to have it restored by 11 am. Thank you for your patience.
Beginning on Monday Aug 4th the City of Checotah will be receiving new water meters at home and commercial properties. There will be contractors coming by and letting you know they will have to shut your water off for a short period to change out your meter. We wanted everyone to be aware of the situation in case they come by your home or business. Thank you for your patience as we continue to upgrade our water systems!
Farmer's Market
The water has been turned back on. If you have any issues please contact the Police Department. They have the emergency contact for the water department. Thank you for your patience.
The main water line to Checotah has been turned off to repair the line. This will affect all of the Checotah water distribution. It will be a 4 to 6 hour process. We hope to have the water restored by 2 am. Thank you for your patience!
A reminder that the Checotah Water department will be shutting down the main water line into Checotah starting at 8pm for a repair. The expected down time will be 4-6 hours. You will experience little to no water pressure during this time. This will be for all Checotah water districts!
Water main has been fixed. Water pressures should begin to return to normal. If you have any issues please contact City Hall. Thank you for your patience!
There is a main line break downtown close to City Hall those on the Northwest, Southwest and some to East may experience low to no water pressure during this time. Thank you for your patience.