City of McAlester Podside Chats

This week, we’re jamming into summer with a spotlight on Juneteenth celebrations, the musical magic of OKLAfest, and the community spirit behind it all. Plus, we look ahead to McAlester’s July 4th fireworks — get ready to ooh, aah, and celebrate!

Dun-DUN. Police Chief Kevin Hearod takes us behind the scenes of real police work, which turns out to involve fewer dramatic courtroom speeches and way more stray dogs.

McAlester just wrapped an unforgettable week of history, hospitality, and heritage. Up next? A high-energy night in downtown with the Flobots at the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival!

Hop in the DeLorean as Ken Wimer takes us from McAlester’s past to its economic future. No flux capacitor needed—just smart planning, business recruitment, and a vision for growth.

The Jefferson Highway stretches from the pine forests of Minnesota to the palm trees of Louisiana—and McAlester sits proudly in the middle. Find out more about how this route is a journey through history, and get all the details on the Jefferson Highway International Conference.

Tornado sirens tell people outside that they need to find shelter — but they’re not enough. Denton Cossey with Pittsburg County Emergency Management returns this week to go more in-depth on the tools and strategies every resident should have ready during storm season.

McAlester’s pools are officially open, and the summer event season is heating up. Plus, get an early peek at what’s in store for the historic Jefferson Highway Conference coming to town soon.

Raw lake water has to cross a gauntlet of treatment steps before it reaches your glass. Water Plant Supervisor Lucky Huff charts the route, the risks, and the reason McAlester’s water is always mission-ready. Tune in for how our water gets treated and answers to some common questions about our water.

From broncs to Broadway vibes, McAlester is poised to impress again this week. We’re breaking down the week’s biggest events, best moments, and boldest turnouts with some data from the busiest weekend of the year so far.

Let’s face it — we all want better roads. But how do you fix 166 lane miles of them? This week, Street Project Manager Bryan Spencer breaks down McAlester’s plan to smooth out every pothole and crack in sight. It’s a road trip to success, and we’re along for the ride — with a few laughs about the bumps along the way.

From the morning grind to after-hours good times, McAlester’s got your week covered. This Tourism Tuesday, we're featuring the spots locals love and even more events that bring people together.

When a critical facility lost water pressure, the McAlester/Pittsburg County Emergency Management team got creative by hooking up a fire truck to keep operations flowing. Deputy Director Denton Cossey joins us to explain how quick thinking and teamwork saved the day—along with how emergency management helps McAlester and surrounding communities.

Pasta plates and music greats — McAlester’s got the best of dates! This week on Tourism Tuesday, we’re serving up the details on the McAlester Italian Festival and the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival, two can't-miss events that bring flavor and rhythm to our hometown.

In a world where Wi-Fi drops, cables tangle, and printers betray us, Justice Adair stands between us and total digital annihilation. This week’s episode is part The Beekeeper, part rolling battle droid (Droidekas), and entirely unhinged. Topics include: Star Wars trivia, Nuka-Cola socks, and the growing threat of overly helpful robots.

Get ready to explore McAlester like never before! Every Tuesday, Podside Chats brings you Tourism Tuesdays — a quick, energetic look at all the exciting events, festivals, and happenings around town. Whether you're planning your weekend, hosting friends and family, or just looking for something new to enjoy, Tourism Tuesdays will keep you in the know.

What do butterfly gardens, tire piles, and the occasional haunted couch have in common? Brandy Jeffreys and the fearless crew at Keep McAlester Beautiful. Join us this week as the KMB executive director and Mayor Justin Few detail how the nonprofit helps our community.

Mayor Justin Few dons his superhero cape (figuratively… we think) to co-host this episode with Keep McAlester McAlester Beautiful Executive Director Brandy Jeffreys. Together, they rally the people of McAlester to join the annual Spring Cleanup and defeat the villain known as Litter.

What’s next for McAlester? City Manager Dave Andren shared his vision on McAlester Radio, and if you didn’t catch it live, we’ve got you covered on another Radioside Chat. Tune into this Podside Chats episode for all the details on what’s ahead!

Tourism in McAlester isn’t just about cool events and visitor stats — it’s also about making tough choices, like whether to command an army of inflatable flamingos or lead a synchronized Macarena flash mob. Dave and Adrian get the inside scoop on how tourism is funded, why our events keep winning awards, and whether Billy is truly prepared for our lightning round of absurd questions.