McCurtain County in far southeast Oklahoma has become a tourism hotbed over the last several decades.
So many tourists from north Texas come to the area each week, the area has earned the nickname - The Dallas-Fort Worth Hamptons. But the region's growing reputation took a gut punch this week.
The local newspaper identified several local elected officials, including Sheriff Kevin Clardy and a county commissioner, in an audio recording discussing killing two journalists and lynching Black people.
One commissioner has already resigned, and elected officials, including the mayor of Idabel and Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, have called for the others to step down.
Many residents say the racist remarks are a throwback to a bygone era. But they still worry about the negative repercussions the incident will have on the community's reputation.
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Tell your Smart Speaker to "PLAY 1080 KRLD"
Sign Up to receive our KRLD Insider Newsletter for more news
