Copyright © 2000 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

TAHLEQUAH, OK - Many families are traveling a safer road in Adair County due to the cooperative effort of the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma and Adair County Commissioners. Fairfield community residents joined officials to show their appreciation for the completion of the Fairfield Road construction project at a dedication dinner for road held November 27, 2000 at the Fairfield Church in Stilwell.

Attending the dedication were Stilwell Mayor Marilyn Russell, Adair County Commissioner Sam Chandler, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chad Smith and District 2 Tribal Councilmen Jackie Bob Martin and Harold "Jiggs" Phillips. Also in attendance were members of the Cherokee Nation Roads Program and several families who reside near Fairfield Road.

"Its always good to get together, especially when we’ve accomplished something for the community that we’re proud of," Phillips said.

The five-mile Fairfield Road project was a joint effort between the Cherokee Nation Roads Program and Adair County to provide safer travel for 100 families, 75 of whom are Cherokee, and employees and patients at the Wilma Mankiller Clinic. The road is also used for a bus route in the community.

Tommy Worsham, a Stilwell resident who has lived on Fairfield Road for the past 15 years said, "It was needed in the community. The road was rough and always had lots of traffic."

The Cherokee Nation Tribal Council approved final funding for the project and $120,000 in materials was provided from the tribe’s Motor Fuels Tax Compact with the state. The total cost of the project was approximately $232,000.

The reason we repair these roads is for the health and safety of the people who live on the road," Cherokee Nation Roads Project Director, Harley Buzzard said. "We use the Motor Fuels Tax money because Federal Highway Standards do not apply, and we get more miles done for the dollars invested."

The Cherokee Nation has also approved money from the Motor Fuels Tax to repair the Chewey-Proctor Road and the Honey Hill Road, both in Adair County.