Stay warm during the winter, with firewood from the UKB Environmental Wood Program

The Wood Program offers free firewood to exclusive UKB members in all districts.

Staff Pictured L-R: Colton Nofire, Brandon Eagle, Solid Waste Manager Robert Downing, David Collins, Stuart Washington and Director Merinda Reamy.

By: LANI HANSEN, Senior Reporter

TAHLEQUAH, Okla- The United Keetoowah Band Environmental Wood Program continues to bring service to the people as we are in the middle of winter season.

The program which began four years ago, has seen a bit of a growth and maintains staying busy all year long. The program consists of four woodcutters on staff David Collins, Brandon Eagle, Colton Nofire and Stuart Washington, directed under Merinda Reamy.

“These guys start cutting wood during the summer,” Reamy said. “We get calls from tribal and non-tribal members after storms to come out and clean out downed trees.”

The wood program does not come out and cut trees down, they only report to those who have trees down or around the yard. Summertime is when the woodcutters start stocking up for the winter.

The staff began delivering firewood in December to 74 tribal members totaling out to 222 ricks of wood. With the first snowstorm of 2025, in three and a half days they delivered to 42 members totaling out to 126 ricks.

“I do appreciate the following staff for helping during a busy week getting ready for the snowstorm: HP staff Curtis Hummingbird, Buck Nofire and Todd Downing,” Reamy said. “Also, we want to thank Adam Chuculate the Director of Maintenance for letting us borrow his trailer.”

The UKB Environmental Wood Program offers free firewood to exclusive UKB members in all districts. If you need firewood, please contact your district representative for an application or contact Merinda Reamy at 918-871-2764.