Cherokee Nation donates funds to WSS
Okla. — Mike Shambaugh, the Speaker of the Council for the Cherokee Nation, presented a check for $8,764 to the town of West Siloam Springs on Thursday, Sept. 15.
Shambaugh, on behalf of the Cherokee Nation, presented the check to Director of Public Works Waylon Chandler, who represented the town, according to a press release issued by the town. Mayor Rhonda Wise
and Vice Mayor Linda Wise were in attendance, the release states.
Funds will be used to purchase computer hardware, mountings and emergency lighting for the water and street department vehicles, as well as decals for the code enforcement vehicle, the release states.
The deal came together when West Siloam Springs Trustee Sam Byers ran into Shambaugh one to two months ago and asked if the Cherokee Nation was still assisting towns and equipment. Shambaugh said yes and asked if West Siloam Springs needed anything.
Byers asked Chandler and was told the water department needed computers in their vehicles which would help with the digital meters the town is looking to purchase, along with lights for the department’s vehicles and also for the code enforcement vehicle, he said.
Under Byers’ advice, Chandler put together a quote and emailed it to Shambaugh.
“Waylon was more than appreciative,” Byers said. “Shambaugh has helped out a lot of people and a lot of municipal departments.”
Byers also said that it was not just Shambaugh but the entire council for the Cherokee Nation who had a hand in helping the town, but Shambaugh is known for helping a lot of towns in his district.
Byers said he is proud to serve the community of West Siloam Springs as a trustee and is also proud to have other entities as well as the Cherokee Nation help out to make West Siloam Springs a stronger town.
Shambaugh’s office did not immediately respond to a request for a comment.