Ryan Horton is an award-winning journalist, and has served as Managing Editor of the Choctaw Times since 2010. He earned a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University.
Concert canceled over safety concerns
Ghost tribute band cancels 2025 tour due to alleged threats, cyber-attacks By Ryan Horton Choctaw Times A Halloween-themed performance slated for Oct. 25 at Harrah’s Okie State Room was recently canceled following online opposition escalating to alleged threats and cyber-attacks. Ghost is a Grammy-winning Swedish rock band known for combining costumed theatricality, heavy metal, and occult-themed…
Read MoreChoctaw hosts Legislative Lunch 2025
By Ryan Horton Choctaw Times The Choctaw Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Legislative Lunch at Eastern Oklahoma County Technology Center, Sept. 25. A panel of speakers included State Senator Brenda Stanley, State Senator Nikki Nice, State Representative Robert Manger, State Representative John George, Oklahoma County District 1’s Chief Deputy Commissioner John Pettis Jr., and…
Read MoreBlanchard names next city manager
Kolman hired, Floyd to retire June 30 By Ryan Horton The Blanchard News Roger Kolman has been named Blanchard’s next city manager. He will replace retiring city manager Robert Floyd, July 1. Kolmsn comes to Blanchard with more than 25 years of city administration experience. He has been working in Muskogee, since 2023 as their assistant…
Read MoreChoctaw meets about proposed sales tax
By Ryan Horton Choctaw Times Last Monday the Choctaw City Council hosted the first of four Town Hall meetings to discuss the proposed penny sales tax to be voted on Feb. 11. This week was the second of the four scheduled meetings. Two more public meetings are planned for January 20 and 27, and residents…
Read MoreBlanchard schools receive overall ‘A’ grades
By Tony Strickland Staff writer A pair of Blanchard schools have officially been upgraded to overall “A” grades by the Oklahoma State Department for the 2023-2024 school year. That upgrade has resulted in a pair of extremely proud principals in Chance Grider and Paula Floyd. Blanchard Middle School Principal Grider and Intermediate Principal Floyd took…
Read MoreTotal 2024 run numbers released
By Jacob Sturm Staff Writer Blanchard’s Fire Department offered totals for 2024 calls they responded to and compared it to some previous years through a department social media post earlier this month. According to the post, the Blanchard Fire Department made 1,454 runs and saw a whopping 66% of those being due to medical calls.…
Read MoreCraig heads to McAlester
By Tony Strickland Staff Writer Longtime Blanchard High School head football coach and athletic director Jeff Craig confirmed to the Blanchard News on Friday evening that he has accepted the position of head football coach at 5A McAlester, pending McAlester School Board approval on January 13th. Craig noted on Friday evening that moving closer to family was…
Read MoreTornado rips through Choctaw, Harrah
Dozens of homes destroyed in eastern Oklahoma County By Ryan Horton Choctaw Times A tornado touched down near SE 15th Street and Triple X Road and ripped a nearly 20-mile long northeastern path through eastern Oklahoma County around 1:30 a.m. Sunday morning. The storm left dozens of homes destroyed, hundreds of properties damaged, and dozens…
Read MoreCentral Oklahoma Weeklies purchases The Blanchard News
By Tony Strickland Longtime Blanchard News owner/editor Ross Coyle announced the sale of the paper this week to Central Oklahoma Weeklies, the Mustang-based owner and publisher of the Mustang Times, the Tuttle Times, the Choctaw Times, Minco-Union City Times and the Midwest City Beacon. Coyle has owned and run The Blanchard News since 1972, when…
Read MoreLions fall to Tuttle, 28-7
By Tony Strickland The Blanchard football Lions took their first tumble of the season on Friday night in a spotlight matchup t rival Tuttle. Missed opportunities told the tale for the Lions in the 28-7 loss as drives inside the Tiger 10 just before half and again early in the final frame each came up…
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