GRANT- Escape the heat and celebrate the grand opening of Choctaw's new Casino Resort in Grant with a chance to win $25,000 during the cash giveaway from July 6 to 11.

Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma began its gaming endeavors in Grant with Choctaw Racing. On April 15, 1999, Choctaw Racing opened and offered gaming enthusiasts off-track betting. In 2001, Choctaw Racing changed its name to Choctaw Casino, moved into a doublewide trailer and coupled the off-track betting with 70 slot machines and seven associates.

HUGO - Choctaw Memorial Hospital has a new acting Chief Executive Officer after actions taken Thursday by the board of directors. Marcia O'Connor was named to replace Davie Lloyd, who was placed on administrative leave. The board voted unanimously to take those actions following a two-hour executive session.

The board's meeting got off to a questionable start, as approximately 40 citizens were denied access to the meeting, which convened in cramped quarters in the hospital's conference room. Several agenda items were discussed by the board and actions were taken in apparent violation of the state open meeting's law, which requires that the public not be denied access to open sessions of governing bodies.

After several agenda items, including

HUGO - Approximately 50 employees of Choctaw Memorial Hospital were joined by several doctors, nurses and members of the hospital's governing board Thursday for a meeting with city and county officials who own the facility.

The meeting was believed to be closed to the public, for the purpose of allowing representatives from the Choctaw County Board of County Commissioners and City of Hugo officials to discuss recent concerns being aired by numerous hospital employees.

According to persons attending the meeting, who spoke to the Hugo Daily News on the condition of anonymity, numerous hospital employees aired grievances, which were aimed primarily at the hospital's management.