Kim Morava - The Shawnee News-Star - USA Today Network
Six years ago this month, along Interstate 40 east of Shawnee, a distracted driver struck and killed Trooper Nicholas Dees while he investigated an accident scene.
In the years since that tragedy, what happened that night has prompted more awareness about distracted driving, including presentations at high schools locally and across the state, as well as passage of a new state law.
And through the end of this month, as a way to honor Trooper Dees, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and partnering agencies are conducting special emphasis enforcement campaigns focusing on distracted driving violations or signs of inattentive driving.
COVID-19 concern: Pottawatomie County cancels January jury term
A scheduled jury term in Pottawatomie County this month has been cancelled because of COVID-19 concerns.
Pottawatomie County Court Clerk Valerie Ueltzen said the jury term was slated for Jan. 11-22, but will not be held this month because of the coronavirus.
“With the rising number of COVID-19 cases in our county, and with several members of the legal system in quarantine, we feel it is best that we cancel the upcoming term,” she said.
“Our main priority is the health and safety of our community and we want to make sure that we are doing our part in helping stop the spread of COVID-19,” she added.
Law enforcement couple to host free community Christmas dinner Thursday in Shawnee
The Shawnee News-Star
Christmas is the season of giving and one local couple, a Pottawatomie County Sheriff s Deputy and his wife, a reserve deputy, are giving back by hosting and organizing a free community Christmas dinner in Shawnee on Dec. 24.
The free community dinner will begin at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 24 at the Shawnee Senior Center on North Bell Street, located just behind the Pottawatomie County courthouse in downtown Shawnee, and go until the food runs out.
Sheriff s Investigator Jimmy Brewer and his wife, Stephanie, a reserve deputy, are organizing and making the dinner possible, with many volunteers helping to make the day a joyous one, with donors also contributing to the cause.
Pott. County fugitive nabbed in Las Vegas
A Pottawatomie County fugitive on the run since 2019 has been apprehended in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pottawatomie County Investigator Jimmy Brewer said Dion E. Robinson, 28, of Shawnee, was wanted by the sheriff s Fugitive Task Force for several felony warrants, including shooting with intent to kill, and was arrested by authorities in Las Vegas Monday. That apprehension occurred inside an elevator of the Circus Circus Casino without any incident, Brewer said.
The arrest ended two weeks of tracking after authorities received information that Robinson was in Hemet, California and then tracked him to San Diego before finally getting confirmation Monday on his location in Las Vegas. He was arrested with assistance from the Las Vegas Metro Police Department Violent Crimes Division, Brewer said.