Member Spotlight the Johnston County Sentinel

This week’s Member Spotlight is on the Johnston County Sentinel. The Johnston County Sentinel is the successor publication to the Johnston County Capital-Democrat, which makes it both a new and old publication. The original publication was established over 119 years ago on June 4, 1901, in Tishomingo, Indian Territory. 

After the death of Ray Lokey, then publisher of the Johnston County Capital-Democrat, in November 2017, negotiations with his wife started for the sale of the newspaper. In January 2018 the newspaper was sold, re-named and re-organized as the Johnston County Sentinel. The newspaper’s coverage area is all of Johnston County. 

“It is our intent to provide local news coverage for Johnston County,” Tom Lokey, co-publisher, said.

The Johnston County Sentinel provides an exclusive print medium for advertising in Johnston County. It also supplies the printing needs of local area businesses, such as letterheads, checks, printed envelopes, business forms and self-inking stamps.

The newspaper is the best medium for reaching the most households in Tishomingo and Johnston County. When informed in a timely manner of upcoming community events, the newspaper will publish these as part of the news. 

All news and photos that you would like to share in the newspaper can be dropped off at the office, located at 706 West Main Street in Tishomingo; faxed to 371-0275; or e-mailed to jcsentinel@yahoo.com by 5 p.m. on Mondays for consideration of publication in that week’s newspaper. 

Well-written, informative stories will be considered as guest articles or letters to the editor, which must include your full name and city of residence. Also, any events that you may have, such as church dinners and community events, can be submitted for inclusion in the “Community Calendar.” 

The newspaper is also available on their website, johnstoncosentinel.com, and regular posts are made to their Facebook page, Johnston County Sentinel.

Annual subscriptions to the Johnston County Sentinel are $30 for in-county; $35 for elsewhere in Oklahoma; and $45 for out-of-state subscribers.

The current owners and publishers are Mary and Tom Lokey, the third ownership of the newspaper here in Tishomingo by the Lokey family over the past 73 years. 

John Lokey bought the newspaper after his return from serving in the United States Navy during World War II and served as the publisher until 1977, when the newspaper was sold out of the family to John D. and Gracie Montgomery. Ray Lokey purchased the newspaper from the Montgomerys in the early 1990s. 

Staff members include John A. Small as managing editor; Rona Duke, typesetter; Joshua Small, photographer and advertising layout and design; Rex Lokey, advertising sales; and Melissa Small and Jason Duke, distribution assistants.