Ten Commandments Monument In Stigler Moved Next Door

By Craig Day, The News On 6

STIGLER, OK -- There are new developments in a much debated Ten Commandments controversy. With court challenges and appeals exhausted, the Ten Commandments monument outside the Haskell County courthouse in Stigler had to be moved.

Now, the monument has a new home, and it isn't far from where the courthouse controversy began.

With a crew of five, and heavy equipment, the Ten Commandments controversy is lifted in Stigler.

"It's good to get it over with," said Weldon Key, one of the men moving the monument.

The relocation also lifts Haskell County's heavy weight of being at the center of the separation of church and state issue.

"There will be a lot of people here that pay attention to it," said Stigler resident Danny Rhoads.

After six years outside the Haskell County courthouse, and now through the federal court process, the monument was moved. The court says it was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.

The monument was placed at the courthouse in 2004, but a federal appeals court ruled it is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion.  The U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to hear an appeal of the appeals court ruling.

Related story: 3/2/2010 Stigler Residents Divided On Decision To Move 10 Commandments Monument

"I hate that it happened the way it happened, but I still do think this is a good location - a very visible location," Key said.

It isn't going far, only about 75 feet away, but far enough to satisfy critics and the courts, and to distance the community from the controversy.

"I think it will kind of settle the community down," said monument mover Weldon Key. "It's something that nobody wanted except a few, and again it's moved to a good location and it's still in the courthouse range."

The 4,000-pound granite monument now sits outside the American Legion building. It's private property on the corner of the same block as the courthouse.

"I think it's a good location, good visible location," he said.

Now the next step in the long process, is just for the concrete to set, but the matter is settled. A new home for the monument means a new beginning for people weary of the arguing from both sides of the divisive issue.

"Now we don't have to read it in the paper no more," said Danny Rhoads, Stigler resident.

Muskogee Marble and Granite Company donated its services to move the monument.