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Mollman Media News

2018, Nov. 26 - Dec 3


 

 

 

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Today we close out the Chickasha Future Farmer of the week with President Blake White and FFA Reporter Cody Bell closing out the year.

 

 

Monday, Dec. 3rd

 

Homicide Investigation Continues

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the death of a Ninnekah area man. Grady County Undersheriff Phil Blevins says the death of 67-year old Roy Lee Fulton Sr. is considered a homicide. Investigators are not releasing much information about Fulton's death because of its sensitive nature. Blevins said Fulton suffered some type of trauma but was not specific. Authorities were called to Fulton's home west of Ninnekah Friday night. A relative had become concerned because she had not heard from him in a couple of days. Blevins says they have conducted a number of interviews and are narrowing down a list of suspects. Agents with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spent much of the overnight hours Friday and into Saturday morning gathering evidence.

 

Fiery Crash Sends 5 to Hospital; 4-year old in Fair Condition

Two vehicles crash and burn near Marlow sending several  people to the hospital, including two small children. One child was hospitalized in fair condition with head injuries. The accident happened southeast of Marlow late Saturday afternoon. In one of the vehicles were 29-year old Christopher Sylve of Ninnekah and an unidentified 4-year old boy from Duncan. In the other vehicle were 52-year old Larry Bryant, 52-year old Kimberly Rost, and an unidentified 6-year old girl all of Duncan. All were taken to a Duncan hospital, and all but the 4-year old boy were treated and released. The state trooper investigating the crash says Syvle failed to yield at an intersection  and both vehicles became fully engulfed in fire after the collision.

 

Re-Zoning Requests Highlight City Council Agenda               

The Chickasha City Council meets for its final regular meeting of 2018 tonight. The panel has a number of re-zoning issues to review, including one for the Shadow Valley housing development along Country Club Road. That plan has been revised from a previous proposal which was turned down by the council a couple of months ago. The council will also consider re-zoning property near 4th and Missouri for what is expected to be a new gas station-convenience store on the southwest corner of that intersection. The council is also to review a proposal to re-zone much of Honda Lane to light industrial use. The group will also consider selling about four acres of city-owned land along the Grand Avenue corridor near the Grady County Fairgrounds to a developer for $48,000. The council meets at 6:30 p.m. tonight at City Hall.

 

School Board Filings Begin

Filings for school board posts open this morning and three offices are up for grabs on the Chickasha board of education. Those are the posts held by Julie Hibbard, Ginny Howell, and Shawna Covington. Hibbard serves in Office No. 4 and the term runs for five years. Howell serves in Office No. 1 and Covington in Office No. 2. Both were appointed to their seats earlier this year and they must file if they want to try and stay on the panel. Candidates must file at the election board in the county seat where the district is located. The filing period runs through Wednesday and the annual school elections will be In February of 2019.

 

Lincoln School  Lego League Heads to State Competition            

A big achievement for the Lincoln School robotics team. The group won a regional competition in Oklahoma City last month and will now go on to a state competition. The Lincoln Lego League is part of the international FIRST Robotics project. FIRST is an acronym which means For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology.  Instructor Brandon Willis says the teams have to design and build a robot to perform certain tasks with a solar system-themed challenge-

 

               

 

The state contest will be held in Shawnee on Saturday, December 15th.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $50.93 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude fell to $58.71.

Natural gas was up $4.83 per million BTU.

Gold is $1,229 and silver is $14.46.

 

 

Saturday, Dec. 1st

 

Homicide Investigation Underway in Rural Grady County

County and state investigators are looking into the death of a Grady County man. Grady County Sheriff Jim Weir confirms that his office and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation are gathering evidence. Sheriff’s deputies were called out to a home in the western area of rural Grady County between 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. Friday. Weir said a relative found the man's body in his home. Weir provided no details on how the man may have died, but they were looking for suspects. Anyone that may have information is asked to call 9-1-1, the sheriff's office, or leave an anonymous tip on the Chickasha and Grady County Crimestoppers Facebook page.

 

Fire Damage Minimal at Pocasset Home              

Homeowners near Pocasset catch a big break when a fire starts in their attic. The owners were out of town at the time but fortunately relatives who stopped by to feed their cats saw smoke coming out of the roof. Grady County fire crews from Pocasset and Harold volunteer Fire Departments were called out to the home of Trey and Amanda Thorsen about 9:00 p.m. Friday. The fire started in the attic above a bedroom closet. Damage to the home was limited to about $5,000. Investigators traced the cause of the fire to an electrical short. About nine firefighters from the two volunteer departments spent about an hour putting down the flames.

 

Severe Storms Drop at Least One Twister

It was a volatile weather night to close out the month of November with strong thunderstorms and even a tornado pummeling much of the eastern part of the state. The tornado touched down in Sequoyah county near Sallisaw, with early estimates of the twister being an EF-2. One business and mobile home were destroyed however there are no immediate reports of deaths or injuries. One family had to be rescued from their storm cellar. In this region, small hail and high winds struck several areas, and delayed many high school football playoff games.

 

Regional Food Bank Welcomes Matching Grants, Donations

While most of us count our blessings this holiday season, many struggle to even put enough food on the table for their families. The Regional Food Bank continues to provide food in many communities in western Oklahoma, including Chickasha and Anadarko. The food bank recently received a holiday match from Chesapeake Energy and other groups which will double all contributions to the food bank, up to $600,000. Officials say normally every one dollar donated to the Food Bank will provide four meals. Now, that one dollar will provide eight meals thanks to the recent match. Tax deductible donations may be made at www.rfbo.org

 

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend: Brandon Willis with the Chickasha Public Schools  robotics teams is on our KOOL Konversation talking about the recent success of the Lincoln School FIRST Lego League and the upcoming high school robotics season. We have link to the program elsewhere on this website. You’ll find it under the Community tab.

 

Tuttle Football Team Wins 4A Crown

The Tuttle Tigers have won the Class 4A high school football championship. The Tigers defeated Bethany 35-28 in a storm-delayed title game at Yukon last night. It’s the third football title for Tuttle but their first one since 2005. The Tigers went undefeated this year finishing with a perfect 14-0 record.

 

 

Friday, Nov. 30th

 

More Counterfeit Bills Found               

For the second time in the last three months, some counterfeit money has been found in Chickasha. Earlier this week, Chickasha police were notified of a fake $20 bill at a store in the 700 block of Grand Avenue. There's no word on the changes that were been made to the bill, or if it was an isolated incident. Back in September, Chickasha police warned of a number of fake $100 bills that had been turned over to them.  At that time, authorities said it appeared some of those bills were actually $10 bills which had been washed and re-printed.

 

Energy Servicing Company Expands               

A relatively new energy company is growing.  Bison Oilfield Services has reportedly closed a deal to acquire S and S Star Water Solutions, an infrastructure firm operating in the SCOOP, STACK and Merge regions. The Oklahoman reports today that the acquisition makes Bison the state's largest privately held energy services firm with more than 1,500 employees working out of 17 locations. In a press release, Bison CEO North Whipple said it’s a big milestone for his company since it only started three years ago. He said a recent downturn presented some challenges for the industry. But as other service companies down-sized, re-structured, or re-located to Texas, Bison went all-in on Oklahoma. The firm has 300 transport trucks and 25 commercial disposal facilities.

 

More Permits to Drill Approved in the SCOOP

Yesterday we told you about two big oil producing wells for Continental Resources in the Tabler area. Also this week, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has issued Contintental a permit to drill at another location in that area, about a mile west of the Tabler Y. The permit is for the Nancy J No. 2-33-28-21. It's in Section 33 of Township 7 North Range 6 West. The Corporation Commission approved additional permits to drill to a couple of other companies in neighboring counties. TRP Operating was issued a permit to drill in McClain County. That's the Bengy No. 1 H-25-36 which is just southeast of Newcastle. In Canadian County, Roan Resources was issued a permit to drill Barbaro 5-32-29-10-5. That's near Mustang, southwest of the junction of State Highways 4 and 152.

 

New Paved Parking Lot to Benefit Chix Schools, Hospital

A new paved parking lot between the Chickasha High School baseball field and Grady Memorial hospital will benefit both the school district and the hospital. Contractors are working on the project right now. The Chickasha Board of Education and the Grady Memorial Hospital Authority have both signed off on the project, which is being paid for by the hospital. The property is owned by the school district. School officials allowed hospital employees to park in that area during the construction of the hospital's new surgery and imaging center. The hospital has also agreed to maintain it for 20 years. The hospital and school district will have joint use of the area.

 

Sweet! Minco Honey Festival is Tomorrow

Another great small-town Oklahoma festival is on tap in Grady County tomorrow. The Minco Honey Festival attracts thousands of visitors every year. The 28th annual event will open with a pancake and sausage breakfast - and you're encouraged to use honey instead of syrup for the flap-jacks. There will be arts and crafts, a tractor pull, a honey-bake off, free food samples - including milk, chocolate milk, and cheese from the Braum's Dairy - and a visit from Santa. The annual festival is hosted by the Minco Chamber of Commerce and local businesses.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX was up yesterday to $51.45 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude was up to $59.51.

Natural gas lost a nickel to $4.65 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,227 and silver is $14.33.

 

 

Thursday, Nov. 29th

 

State's Largest Producing Wells This Week in Grady County

Two of the largest producing oil wells in the state this week are in Grady County. Both are Continental Resources locations east of Chickasha.  The Triple H-3-30-31 is producing more than 1,300 barrels of oil-equivalent on a daily basis. The other is another Triple H well just south of that location which is producing about 1,100 barrels of oil-equivalent per day. Both are located about four miles east of the Tabler Y in Sections 19 and 30 in Township 7 North Range 5 West. Spud dates for the wells was November of last year, with a completion date of this past March. Continental filed the production reports with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

 

Man Jailed for Allegedly Breaking in to Relative's Home               

A Chickasha man is in jail after its alleged he broke into a relative's home. 43-year old Michael Ray Pena was arrested early Wednesday morning after the break-in near 12th and Dakota. A police affidavit alleges Pena shattered the glass front door to get inside. The relative living there believed Pena was high. Pena was at the home when police arrived, and the affidavit states Pena told authorities he knew what he did was wrong but didn't know why he did it. Pena admitted to using meth earlier. Pena has been charged with misdemeanor count of burglary. He remains in jail in lieu of a $2,000 bond.

 

Man Allegedly Runs Over Woman's Arm With Car

In a RANCH News follow-up, the man arrested on an outstanding felony warrant for assault went before a Grady County judge yesterday. 63-year old Patrick Norman Wilson of Lawton is charged with assault and battery with a deadly weapon. Court documents indicate the charge stems from an incident which took place in the parking lot at Salt Creek Casino back in May. It's alleged that Wilson and a woman were arguing and that Wilson backed into the woman with his car and she fell to the ground. The victim said Wilson ran over her wrist several times. Paramedics were called but the victim refused treatment. Wilson remains jail pending a $25,000 bond.

 

Community Mourns Death of 'The Popsicle Man'

The Ninnekah community is mourning the death of The Popsicle Man. Edgar Wright would ride his motorized scooter through  town most afternoons giving free popsicles to kids. Wright passed away Tuesday afternoon after just recently turning 79 years old. Wright would begin his popsicle deliveries promptly at 3:30 each afternoon and would distribute free popsicles to children along a two-mile route. He was featured on   KFOR TV’s Is This a Great State or What segment a couple of years ago. A memorial service for the Popsicle Man will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the First Baptist Church of Ninnekah.

 

Tips to Light Up Your Home Safely

Holiday decorations are already being displayed in neighborhoods and homes. If you're just getting started, Grady County 4H President and state 4H ambassador Beth Armstrong has some tips to help you light up your home safely.

 

               

 

She says if you have old lights with frayed wires, loose connections, or cracked sockets, those are fire hazards and should be thrown away.

 

Holiday Performances in Chickasha               

A couple of entertaining shows will hit the stage tonight. The Chickasha Community Theatre will debut its holiday program, Dashing Through the Snow. Show times are 7:30 p.m. tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night, with a 2:00 p.m. matinee performance Sunday afternoon. All performances are at the historic Washita Theatre downtown. For one night only, USAO is hosting the Reduced Shakespeare Company, in the abridged edition of The Ultimate Christmas Show. That's a 7:30 p.m. performance tonight only at USAO’s Te Ata Memorial Auditorium.

               

Energy and Metals               

Crude oil on the NYMEX is down to $50.29 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude falls to $58.76.

Natural gas continuing its climb, up to $4.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,230 and silver is $14.37.

 

 

Wednesday, Nov. 28th

 

Rush Springs, Fletcher Schools Schedule Bond Elections

Two school districts in the region have scheduled special bond elections after the first of the year. In Rush Springs, voters will decide a $16.5 million plan for the construction and remodeling of school sites. In Fletcher, there's an $810,000 proposal to replace the roof on the elementary school. Fletcher Superintendent Shane Gilbreath said the current flat roof has a lot of leaks and they want to replace it with a pitched roof. New heat and air units will also be installed. Gilbreath said there will be two bond issues coming off tax rolls this year, so if the measure is approved property taxes will not go up. The election date for both Rush Springs and Fletcher school bond issues is Jan. 8th. The deadline to register to vote in those elections is Dec. 14th.

 

Assault Suspect Behind Bars

A Lawton man wanted for a felony assault and battery charge is behind bars. 63-year old Patrick Norman Wilson was taken into custody by a Grady County deputy sheriff Tuesday afternoon. It wasn't immediately known where authorities found him. An arrest warrant was issued for Wilson six months ago. The Lighthorse Police Department of Ada requested the warrant. Details behind the arrest warrant weren't available this morning. The warrant is for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon for an incident that occurred this past May.

 

Shoppers Warned of Holiday Scams

'Tis the season of giving but you should be on the lookout for scams that seem better than they really are. One social media scam is called Secret Sister, where individuals are asked to send gifts to six people, and those people in turn are supposed to send gifts back to that person. Sean Rose with the Oklahoma Division of the Better Business Bureau says-

 

               

 

Rose says the scam is similar to a chain letter. He says if you would like for a friend to give you gift, just give them your list and have them select one.

 

Salvation Army Offers Pay for Bell Ringers

The Salvation Army is looking for bell ringers to man their red kettles in the region. And while the faith-based organization is looking for volunteers, they are also hiring seasonal help. Lt. David Brittle says they need bell ringers in Chickasha, Anadarko and the Tri-City area to help them reach their goal of collecting $60,000 which will benefit needy families in the Grady and Caddo county areas. The pay is $8 per hour, and individuals can work part time or full time. Brittle says it’s a good short-term job for college or high school students. Individuals can work anywhere from two to eight hours per day, Monday through Saturday. They do not work on Sunday. Interested applicants, or civic, church, or student groups that would like to volunteer to ring the bell as a community service project can contact the Salvation Army by calling 405-224-5647.

 

Library's Food For Fines, Elf-on-the-Shelf to Return

A couple of notes from the Chickasha Library. Starting December 1st, the library will again offer its Food for Fines program. Individuals who have overdue books or materials can donate food in place of the monetary fine. All food donations will be given to the Emergency Food Pantry. It runs the entire month of December. The amount of food donated does not have to match the fine. Officials say the value of the contributions are normally much more than the fine. Also, many patrons bring in non-perishable foods even if they don't have overdue items. Officials say any materials that have been lost or damaged are not eligible for the Food for Fines program. Also starting December 1st, the Elf on the Shelf will begin reading his way through the children's section. Children are invited to stop in each day to find the elf, and enter a drawing to be held  December 21st to win the elf and take him home.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is down to $51.56 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is down to $60.21.

Natural gas is up to $4.26 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,219 and silver is $14.24.

 

 

Tuesday, Nov. 27th

 

Fire Destroys Home; Residents Escape Unharmed

A two-alarm fire early this morning destroys a Chickasha home. Chickasha and Ninnekah firefighters were summoned to the fire near 16th and Pikes Peak Road about 2:00 am. Buddy Myers with the Grady County Fire Department said the couple was awakened by fire in their bedroom. They were able to escape without any injuries. As many as 15 firefighters were paged out to the fire. In addition to losing their home, the couple's van was also destroyed. Damage estimate to the house and van is about $65,000. Myers said a space heater in the bedroom was to blame for the fire. The couple is staying with local family members.

 

Road Up Mt. Scott May Be Closed Another Six Months               

Mt. Scott is a popular tourist destination however the road to the top of the mountain has been closed for repairs for several weeks. Now, officials say the road may remain closed until next summer. Officials with the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge say heavy rains washed out a portion of the road back in September. KSWO-TV reports that while making repairs, officials found more than 100 other places where the foundation or culverts need to be fixed. The roadway is more than 80 years old, as it was part of a federal WPA project in the 1930s. While the road is closed to motor vehicles, visitors can walk or bike up the mountain but that is not an option for many visitors. Officials estimate 60,000 people drive up Mt. Scott every year. They say it is a major attraction, and the road repair is a high-priority project.

 

Chickasha to Combine Water Meter Bills               

The City of Chickasha will soon be combining water bills for customers who have a meter for their house  and a separate meter or meters for irrigation purposes. That means residents who have multiple meters will see their bills combined into a single monthly statement. Officials say the transition won't take place all at once, but it will start with the December billing cycle and phased in over the next several months. Sewer bills will continue to be billed on house meters only. Anyone have questions should contact city hall by calling 222-6015.

 

Late Pastor's Radio Programs in Book Form and On-line

It's been almost a year since the death of Rev. Larry Hatfield. He was a dear friend of ours at 106.1 The RANCH, our sister station KOOL 105.5, and the many listeners of his daily radio program Coffee with Hatfield. He passed away last December at the age of 73. Now, his widow Helen and their daughter Glenna have published a paperback book with transcripts of many of those radio programs. The book has the same name as his radio show. The books are $10 and may be purchased at Crystal's Shear Magic at 4th and Chickasha Avenue, which is next to Jay's Jewelry. We also have many of his Coffee with Hatfield radio programs on our website www.kool1055fm.com under the Community Tab.

 

Jody Miller, Others to Join State Music Hall of Fame

Jody Miller, the Grammy-award winning resident of Blanchard, will be among ten women inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame today. Miller won the Grammy for Best Female Vocalist in 1966 for her recording of “Queen of the House”. The song was an answer to fellow Oklahoma Grammy winner Roger Miller's “King of the Road”. The two are not related. Other inductees in the 2018 Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame class include Gayla Peevey, the childhood singer of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas"; Molly Bee, who covered the holiday classic “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"; and Susie McEntire of the renowned McEntire family. Others are Gail Davies, the first female record producer in country music; Evelyn LaRue Pittman who wrote the opera “Freedom Child” about the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Katrina Elam, who has written songs for Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, and Reba McEntire; Gus Hardin, an Academy of Country Music (ACM) award winner; and Kellie Coffey, also an ACM award winner. Lorrie Collins, half of the rockabilly duo the Collins Kids will be inducted posthumously. The induction ceremony will be held at the Oklahoma History Center.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is up to $51.63 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude tops $60 to $60.48.

Natural gas was down to $4.24 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,230 and silver is $14.38.

 

 

Monday, Nov. 26th

 

Death of Imprisoned Child Molester Ruled to be from Natural Causes

There is new information today regarding the prison death of long-time school administrator and Duncan preacher Jody Hilliard. Hilliard died in a state prison in Boley, Okla. back in October. Hilliard had been sent to prison after pleading no contest to child molestation charges. An autopsy from the state medical examiner's office said Hilliard's probable cause of death was atherosclerotic and hypertensive cardiovascular disease. Hilliard was 73 when he died. That was about three months after a Stephens County judge sentenced Hilliard to serve seven years for pleading no contest to five charges that stemmed from his  arrest back in 2016.

 

Crash Involving Semi Closes Highway

A traffic accident involving a semi shut down traffic on U.S. Highway 62 east of Chickasha last night. The accident happened near the Tabler Y just after 11:00 p.m. Sunday. The Highway Patrol said there were no injuries. The crash closed the highway for nearly two hours, and it was re-opened about 1:00 a.m. this morning.

 

Chickasha Water Fluoridation Process Recognized

Chickasha is among several Oklahoma communities recognized for maintaining a consistent level of fluoride in its drinking water. The State Health Department reports 13 cities across the state have been recognized by the Centers for Disease Control for their efforts. Health officials say adding fluoride to water is effective in preventing tooth decay. Community water fluoridation has been recognized by the CDC as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century. Authorities say studies indicate that for every one dollar a community invests in water fluoridation $20 are saved in dental treatment costs.

 

Governor-elect Transition Team Has Local Tie               

There is a local connection to Oklahoma Governor-elect Kevin Stitt's transition team. Blayne Arthur is one of nine additional members named to help Stitt with his Oklahoma Turnaround team. Arthur has family that lives in the Chickasha area. She is the executive director for the Oklahoma 4H Foundation. She previously served five years as the deputy commissioner for the state Department of Agriculture. The transition team will develop policy proposals for the 2019 legislative session and help put together Stitt's budget proposal. Stitt will take office in January.

 

Red Kettle Campaign Underway               

Nearly nine cents of every dime donated to the regional Salvation Army benefits needy families in Grady and Caddo County. Lt. David Brittle says the agency's biggest fund raiser of the year, the current Red Kettle Drive, helps its many programs.

 

               

 

While the church headquarters is in Chickasha, it is working with Southwest Youth and Family Services in Anadarko to help families in the Caddo County Area. Brittle says they are working to partner with a church in the Anadarko area by the first of the year.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $50.42 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $58.80.

Natural gas is $4.30 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,226 and silver is $14.49

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