Monday, Dec. 23rd

Triple Murder Defendant Pleads Guilty

Jacob Mayhugh, charged with killing his parents and sister, pleaded  guilty to three counts of first degree murder in Grady County District Court today. Mayhugh was arrested in May of this year for the shooting deaths of his father James; his mother Patty; and his sister Shayla. Their bodies were found in their Chickasha home on Mother's Day weekend. Mayhugh had waived his right to a preliminary hearing and a trial date was initially going to be set today. Instead, he entered the pleas during an hour-long hearing with District Judge Kory Kirkland. District Attorney Jason Hicks said he was originally going to ask for the death penalty but decided not to pursue that punishment-

Mayhugh was sentenced to three consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. The agreement also states that he cannot appeal the sentences nor can he ask for commutations. He was also ordered to pay more than $22,000 in restitution to pay for the three funerals. Mayhugh admitted that he shot and killed his parents and sister but never provided a motive for doing so. More than 25 members of the Mayhugh family attended the hearing and several gave victim impact statements. One said what Jacob did was unforgiveable and hoped that he would rot in prison. Another said the devil has a special place in hell for him.

Report Cards Show Chix Schools 'Average'

School report cards are out and for Chickasha Public Schools Superintendent Rick Croslin says some improvement is needed. Croslin said Grand Elementary received a B but all other schools received C's. He points to one reason he believes factored into those average grades-

Croslin said if a student misses a day because of a doctor's appointment or even a funeral counts against the district.

Millions Spent on H.E. Bailey Turnpike Improvements

More than $30 million has been spent over the last five years to make pavement improvements on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The Southwest Ledger reports the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority completed dowel bar retro-fits on about 57 miles of the toll road. Three projects completed include a 24-mile stretch through Chickasha between mile marker 78 and mile marker 102 in Newcastle; a 16-mile section from Chickasha to Elgin from mile marker 78 to mile marker 62; and a 13-mile section from Fletcher at mile marker 62 to mile marker 45 near Medicine Park. The turnpike authority recently spent more than $17 million to rehabilitate crumbling shoulders and repair or replace guard rails. Bids for two more shoulder and guardrail reconstruction projects are scheduled to be awarded in

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.46 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.94.

Natural gas is $3.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,633 and silver is $30.17.

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Saturday, Dec. 21st

Ceremony Held to Get Broadband Service to the Region

A groundbreaking ceremony was held this week for one of many projects expected to get high-speed internet service to rural parts of the state. The ceremony in Bray was held to announce a nearly $66 million project for broadband expansion which will reach more than 2,000 homes and businesses in the region. Among those on hand were Gov. Kevin Stitt who said it's a game-changer for Oklahoma families, businesses, and communities. The governor said it ensures even the most rural areas will have the tools they need to compete in the state's economy. Officials with the state broadband office say the project is funded through more than $43 million federal grants and nearly $23 million of matching funds from companies under the Hilliary brand. They include Southern Plains Cable, Medicine Park Telephone, Oklahoma Fiber Network, Oklahoma Western Telephone, Southwest Oklahoma Telephone, Phoenix Long Distance, and Texhoma Fiber. Hilliary projects are scheduled in 11 counties including Grady, Stephens, Comanche, and Kiowa counties. Mike Sanders is the director of the state broadband office. He said the launch is more than the laying of fiber – it's the foundation for opportunity, growth, and connectivity in every corner of Oklahoma.

State Senator Calls for Transparency by Turnpike Authority

A state senator is taking aim at the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). State Senator Lisa Standridge (R-Norman) has filed Senate Bill 80 which would increase transparency and public involvement into the agency's projects. In a prepared statement Standridge said the measure is designed to provide clear requirements for public notification, input, and oversight before any new turnpike - or modifications to existing turnpikes - can proceed. It calls for the OTA to provide notice to affected property owners and key state officials to include maps and summaries of projects. It also calls for at least a 30-day public comment period and to hold hearings for individuals to present their views and arguments. The bill also would grant standing for affected parties to file a lawsuit against the OTA if the agency fails to comply with the requirements.

Hundreds Complete Ft. Sill Basic Training

There were proud moments for hundreds of Ft. Sill soldiers who graduated from basic training this week. 800 trainees will move on to the next round of their young careers. The soldiers are members of Alpha Battery, First Battalion, 22nd Field Artillery Regiment; Delta Battery, First Battalion, 40th Field Artillery Regiment; and Charlie Battery, First Battalion, 79th Field Artillery Regiment.

Carnegie Sonic Drive In to Close

Carnegie residents received some disappointing news just days before Christmas. Owners of the Sonic Drive In there say the restaurant will be closing. The closure was announced in letter to employees attributed to Joe Moore of the Moore Sonic Group of Pauls Valley which owns the restaurant. The letter says the decision to close was not made lightly but after careful consideration of the current business climate it's in the best interest of the company to do so. The store will be closing on or before next Saturday.

Talk Show Topic

Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin and the district's operations director Dan Turner are on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Dec. 20th

Proposed Firing of Ninnekah School Teacher

May be Due to New State Law

The board of education for the Ninnekah school district will hold a pre-termination hearing next month for a teacher alleged to have exchanged text messages with a student. While investigators say the content of the messages was not inappropriate nor criminal in nature, Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess told our partners at KWTV News 9 the exchange could be linked to a new state law. It's HB 3958 - which prohibits school employees from communicating with students on unofficial platforms unless it also includes a parent. News 9 reports that Ninnekah Superintendent Regina Jones recommended the termination of the unidentified teacher during a recent school board meeting. In the report, school board member Delaney Berry was said to be frustrated about the delay in scheduling the hearing.  However, Jan. 20th was the earliest that attorneys for both the school district and the teacher were available. Jones did not give specific reasons for her recommendation to fire the teacher. She did say that school employees have had all the required training as well as extra training and they are aware of  relevant laws and policies.

GMH's Request for Recruitment Funds From County Denied

A request by Grady Memorial Hospital to get county funds to help the hospital recruit and keep doctors is pushed aside. County commissioners took no action on the request during their weekly meeting this past Monday. The Union City Times reports the hospital was seeking nearly $126,000 in county funds to be used for physician recruitment and retention. The report cites District One County Commissioner Zack Davis as saying the hospital is operated by a trust, which basically means the facility does business independent of the county - and that it's not the county's place to do recruitment for the hospital.

Grady County Sheriff's Office Presents Annual Awards

A number of Grady County deputies were recognized for their work at an annual awards ceremony held by the sheriff's office. Lt. Howard Jamison was named deputy of the year; Deputy Mark Asche was named special deputy of the year; Sgt. Tommy Herndon was named Reserve Deputy of the Year; Sgt. Keith Williams received the Medal of Valor and Purple Heart award; and Captain Carrie Boggess received a meritorious conduct commendation. The dispatcher of the year award was presented to  McKenzie Woods. Sheriff's commendations were presented to Deputy Zach Banker; Lt. Stacy Carpenter; Capt. Bellan Gornick; Lt. Billy Moon; Deputy Daniel Moore; Lt. Danny Booth; Lt. John Cordell; Captain Terry Alexander; Deputy Max Reinhart; Deputy Timonty Romero; and Deputy Kenton Blumenthal.

Chickasha Firm, Related Groups

Donate Thousands to Salvation Army

Employees along with subcontractors and their vendors for a Chickasha-based firm have combined to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity. Each year Willowbrook Construction Services and their associates rally to aid the Salvation Army division serving Grady and Caddo Counties. More than 50 Willowbrook builders took part with contributions provided by 83 builders, subcontractors, vendors and partners. Willowbrook then matched the combined efforts resulting in nearly $48,000 raised during the three-week campaign. The top worksites were the Oklahoma Children's Hospital; OU Behavioral Health Center; Cushing Public Schools; Oklahoma City Public Schools; Oklahoma Federal Credit Union in Oklahoma City; and Wheeler District Apartments in Oklahoma City. Willowbrook President Weston DeHart said all the participants want to be caught doing the most good and they are enthusiastic about making a difference in their communities.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.91 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.08.

Natural gas is $3.58 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,616 and silver is $29.23.

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Thursday, Dec. 19th

Infant Treated for Broken Bones;

Parents Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse

A two-month old baby is recovering after suffering numerous broken bones and the child's parents are arrested for alleged child abuse and neglect.  19-year old Angela Renee Lawrence and 24-year old Alexander Jacob Pierce of Ninnekah are being held in the Grady County Jail on $500,000 bond each. They were arrested Monday after authorities were notified about the injured baby. A nine-page probable cause affidavit indicates authorities were called to a Tulsa Hospital on Dec. 6th where an infant was being treated for broken leg. Lawrence, Pierce, and the baby were visiting relatives in the Tulsa area. Further examination showed the infant had nine broken bones including a broken arm, a broken clavicle, and rib fractures. Alexander told investigators that some of the injuries may have occurred on Thanksgiving Day. The affidavit shows that Alexander admitted injuring the child. Alexander is charged with child abuse and Pierce is charged with enabling child abuse. Both are to be back in court for preliminary hearing conferences Jan. 8th.

Another Illegal Grow Facility Shut Down

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess continues his effort to shut down illegal grow facilities. Deputies and agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs (OBNDD) raided an undisclosed facility southwest of Ninnekah yesterday. Also on hand were representatives of the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Boggess said they found an estimated 40,000 plants and 600 pounds of packaged product. Boggess said they started about 9:30 yesterday morning with about 60 people involved in the removal and destruction of the illicit weed. Employees of Grady County District Three were also involved, transporting everything to a nearby site where it was buried in a deep hole and then diesel fuel poured over it. Boggess said they were on the location for several hours wrapping up their work about 6:30 last night. The sheriff said no arrests have been made at this time.

Chix PD Receives Grant for Body Armor

The Chickasha Police Department gets some assistance to help keep its officers safe. The agency received a $5,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation. Police Chief G.G. Music said the grant will allow them to purchase three sets of body armor. In a prepared statement Arvest officials say the police department is a vital part of the community, helping to enhance the quality of life where we live and work. Chief Music said the department is thankful to have a partnership with Arvest Bank and the Arvest Foundation. He said they support the men and women who valiantly service the city each day, and the equipment will ensure officers have the proper protection they need to return home safely to their families every night.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.37.

Natural gas is $3.37 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,634 and silver is $30.00.

Obituaries

TyWon McGee

A memorial service will be held at a later date for TyWon McGee, 33, of the Oklahoma City area. The service will be scheduled by the family. The notice was posted by Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Richard White

Funeral service for Richard White, 87, of Altus will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20th at Greater Love Ministries in Altus. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

T.W. Claphan

A graveside service for T.W. Claphan, 55, of Lawton and formerly of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21st at Pioneer Cemetery. He was a carpenter.  Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, Dec. 18th

Leases at Lake Chickasha to be Canceled

Individuals who lease camping sites at Lake Chickasha were recently notified that all lake leases will be canceled. City officials sent letters to lease holders last month saying that their leases will be canceled June 30^th of next year. Among those affected is Rodney Christian who addressed the city council about the issue Monday night-

The letter told lease holders that the lake will eventually become a supplemental source of drinking water for the city. City Manager Jim Crosby said the level of the lake will be increased-

Crosby said the process will take several years. It is not expected to impact recreational use of the lake. Crosby said lease spaces will be created once the work is completed but noted that they will not be permanent leases and would only be for two weeks at a time.

Blanchard Student Admits Firing Resource Officer's Gun

We have an update on the situation at Blanchard Elementary School last weekend where it was reported a student managed to fire the holstered weapon of a school resource officer. Media reports say the student admitted to the officer and a teacher that he made the gun shoot. The McClain County Sheriff's Office issued a statement saying the weapon discharged while the officer was helping a child zip up a jacket. The gun remained in the officer's holster the entire time. Investigators found a large gap between the gun's trigger guard and the holster's design. The resource officer, who is a McClain County deputy, was placed on leave while the incident was investigated. He is expected to return to his work.

New Firm Selected to Organize Chickasha Air Show

The City of Chickasha's popular Wings and Wheels Air Show will return to city's airport next year. The Chickasha City Council this week approved a contract with a firm to oversee the show. The panel approved a contract with Mile High Air Boss out of Evergreen, Colorado.  This is a change from the previous company used as its owner recently passed away. The new company is operated by R. Scott McMillan who has previously helped put together Chickasha shows. The council unanimously approved a contract at a price not to exceed $3,250. The Wings and Wheels Air Show will take place in June of next year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.42 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.50.

Natural gas is $3.32 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,664 and silver is $30.90.

Obituaries

Betty Manuel

A graveside service for Betty Manuel, 97, of Lawton and formerly of Cement will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20th at Rose Hill Cemetery. She was a bookkeeper and a volunteer with Mobile Meals of Lawton. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Methodist Church in Lawton.

Pat Wilson

Funeral service for Patsy 'Pat' Wilson, 77, of Oklahoma City will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 21st at the Divine Wisdom Worship Center in Midwest City. She worked for AT&T, was a substitute teacher, and worked in the medical field. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Rylie Crandall

A memorial service is pending for Rylie Crandall, 25, who passed away in Chickasha. The service is pending with the family. The notice is posted with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Dec. 17th

OSBI Investigates Officer-Involved Shooting

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is looking into an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Grady County yesterday. It took place at the end of a high-speed pursuit that crossed several counties and included several law enforcement agencies. The OSBI reports authorities were pursuing a vehicle stolen from the Erin Springs area south of Lindsay which ended about six miles north of Alex. Among the agencies involved were the Grady County Sheriff's Office, Chickasaw Lighthorse Police, and Blanchard and Dibble police departments. The OSBI tells our partners at KWTV News 9 that Grady County deputies chased the suspect into a field and opened fire on the man. It wasn't clear if the suspect fired at officers. The OSBI said authorities performed life-saving measures on the suspect before he was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. The suspect's name and condition are not known.

Chix  Council OK's Tentative Sale of Airport Industrial Park

The Chickasha City Council has approved the tentative sale of the city's airport industrial park. After more than an hour of discussion during last night's council meeting the panel voted 8-1 to sell the 320-acre site to developer Chet Hitt. He plans to divide the site into about 120 plots –

Hitt told the council he has some business contacts in California that may be interested in moving to Oklahoma due to California's high corporate tax burden. He also said he would build spec buildings at his expense. Councilman Charlie Burruss cast the lone vote against the proposal-

The council agreed to a purchase price of just under $1.6 million. Hitt has six months to do more research on the property before making a final decision. The site is currently under an agriculture lease which expires June 30th of next year.

Police Officer Honored for 25 Years of Service

A Chickasha police officer is recognized for his many years of service. Lt. Traye Alexander was awarded for 25-years of service during last night's city council meeting. Police Chief G.G. Music-

Alexander has worked in numerous divisions of the department including patrol, he's been a field training officer, he is a certified negotiator, and has advanced certification as a CLEET instructor. In recent years he has planned the Citizens Police Academy.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.01 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.31.

Natural gas is $3.24 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,652 and silver is $30.68.

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Monday, Dec. 16^th

Couple Faces Dozens of Charges

Including Child Neglect, Animal Cruelty 

Two people are faced with more than 80 felony charges which include child neglect and animal cruelty after investigators find hundreds of animals in various stages of neglect, and children living in squalor. The investigation began in October when Lt. Jim Peek with the Grady County Sheriff's Office was asked to look into a possible illegal grow facility in the 1500 block of CR 1430 in Ninnekah. While he didn't find an illegal grow facility, he did find numerous dogs chained to trees and in various stages of neglect. There were dozens of fighting roosters in cages. Peek called in the game ranger and officials from the Humane Society of the U.S. to rescue the animals which included cats, goats, fish, companion birds, and a pig. Inside the home investigators say they found terrible living conditions and five children, one just two weeks old. In custody are 41-year old Chue Long Yang and 38-year old Yer Vang. They were arrested last week and have been charged with five felony counts of child neglect and more than 70 charges of animal cruelty. Both are being held in the Grady County Jail on $150,000 bond each.

Chix Airport Industrial Park May be Sold

A proposed industrial park near the Chickasha Airport may be sold. The Chickasha City Council will consider selling the 320-acre park to developer Chet Hitt. The plan will be considered during the airport authority section of tonight's special city council meeting. The site was developed by the city about 25 years ago, and has a mile-long paved road with curbs and gutters, and infrastructure including power lines and water lines. Background information about the proposal indicates that Hitt plans to bring business and industry to the area to create jobs as well as sales tax revenue for the city. The proposed sales price is just under $1.6 million which is the appraised value of the land according to Scope Property Valuation Specialists of Edmond. The sale is for surface rights only and all proceeds  would go into the Chickasha Municipal Airport Authority for future airport investment and development.

Public hearings also scheduled

The council will hold public hearings on a couple of issues that were recommended by the Planning Commission last week. One is a request by the Canadian Valley Technology Center to close an alleyway in order that the school can expand parking; and the other is for a use-on-review permit to allow alcohol sales at 234 East Grand Extension near Jimmy's Egg Restaurant. The group will also consider applying another two inches of asphalt on Cottonwood Road just east of Highway 81 from near the railroad tracks and east to Sooner Road at a cost of nearly $100,000. Several police officers will be recognized for their years of service and an oath of office will be given to new officer Christopher Lambert. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall. After the meeting the council will hold a work session regarding the Onward Chickasha survey.

Grady County Ag Producers to Meet

Grady County ag producers will have their final meeting of 2024 tomorrow. Producers meet the first and third Tuesdays of the month and tomorrow's guest speaker will be Amy Hagerman who is an OSU Extension specialist in Agriculture and Food Policy. The meetings are free and open to all producers. They'll get started at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning at the Grady County OSU Extension Office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.50 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.82.

Natural gas is $3.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,678 and silver is $31.11.

Obituary

Galen McLaughlin

Funeral service Galen McLaughlin, 91, of Chickasha was held at 1:00 p.m. today (Monday, Dec. 16^th) at Parkview Christian Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was a certified diesel mechanic who worked at the OSU Research Station where he designed, built, and tested farm machinery. Arrangements were with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church's youth fund.

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Saturday, Dec. 14th

Child Manages to Shoot School Resource Officer's Gun

Authorities are looking into how an elementary school student managed to fire a shot from the gun of a school resource officer. It happened on a Blanchard school playground yesterday. Miraculously, nobody was hurt. Reports indicate that the student somehow got hold of the officer's secured firearm while it was in the officer holster. The bullet was shot into the ground. The McClain County Sheriff's Office was called in to help Blanchard schools with the investigation. KWTV News 9 reports that the sheriff's office will conduct a thorough review to see if the student actually fired the weapon or if the gun had a mechanical failure. In a statement Blanchard Superintendent Brady Barnes said the district understands the incident is deeply concerning and officials are reviewing  protocols to try to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Space Heater Blamed for Fire That Destroyed Darko Home

An Anadarko man is thankful to be alive after a fire destroys his home. Rudy Oheltoint Sr. lost everything in the fire that started after a space heater burst into flames. The 84-year old Oheltoint was home alone when the fire broke out. KFOR-TV reports that family members saw first signs of the fire when they saw smoke on a Ring camera at the home and they called for help. That video likely saved Oheltoint's life. Oheltoint lived in the home for more than 50 years. Family members say it was filled with countless memories from several generations. Among the items destroyed was a collection of guitars he was going to pass down. Relatives say they will work to help him rebuild so he can stay on the property they call home.

Suspect Arrested After Fight and Kicking a Doctor

A fight between two men leads to both men being taken to a hospital and one of them to jail. Chickasha police were called to the Carriage Park Apartments in the 1900 block of South 22nd about 7:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Both men suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital for treatment - one for a broken nose and shoulder blade. A probable cause affidavit indicates the men were allegedly fighting over stolen drugs. 54-year old Kendrick DeWayne Spencer needed stitches in his left hand and was uncooperative so he was handcuffed to a hospital bed where he kicked a doctor in the chest. After treatment, Spencer was taken to the Grady County Jail. He's being held on felony complaints of aggravated assault and assault on a medical care provider. During his initial court appearance Spencer was disruptive and authorities were unable to complete their proceedings. Bond has not yet been set.

Oklahoma, Arkansas Power Grid Expansion Project Canceled

A proposal to expand the electric grid in parts of Oklahoma and Arkansas which some say threatened land grabbing has been canceled. Yesterday, we reported that the U.S. Department of Energy and the Southwest Power Pool suggested building a nearly 650-mile mile long and 18-mile wide electric transmission line running from the Oklahoma Panhandle and into Arkansas. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Attorney General Gentner Drummond were among those criticizing the plan dubbed the Delta Plains Electric Transmission Corridor. Officials say developers were proposing the use of eminent domain to seize property for the project. Officials with the U.S. Department of Energy announced yesterday they would not proceed with the project.

Obituary

Galen McLaughlin

Funeral service for Galen McLaughlin, 91, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, Dec. 16th at Parkview Christian Church. He was a U.S. Army veteran and a certified diesel mechanic who worked at the OSU Research Station where he designed, built, and tested farm machinery. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church's youth fund.

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Friday, Dec. 13th

Consumer Spending Again Shows Mixed Results

Consumer spending in Grady County shows a month-to-month increase in the September-to-October time period. It's estimated that $76.2 million was spent on taxable goods and services at retail outlets during that time. That's an increase of 22.4 percent from the previous month. However, the number is down compared to the same time last year by 15.4 percent. We can estimate consumer spending by the amount of sales tax revenues the county receives. In November, the county received more than $572,000 then we factor in the county sales tax rate of three-quarters of a penny.

How the sales tax money is spent

The sales taxes are distributed to several areas, all of which have been approved by county voters. The Grady County Fairgrounds received $191,000; Grady Memorial Hospital, $169,000. The 20 Grady County Fire Districts get an equal share of a $95,000 total so each one gets $4,700. The senior nutrition centers also share $95,000 with each one receiving more than $13,000. Tuttle EMS received $17,000 and Rush Springs EMS received $4,400.

State Officials Vow to Protect Property Owners

in Proposed Expansion of Midwest's Electric Grid

A number of state officials say they'll fight a proposal from the U.S. Department of Energy to seize land in Oklahoma to expand the electric grid in the Midwest. We get the story from Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission-

The website OK Energy Today reports that Gov. Stitt suggested 'unplugging' the state from the Southwest Power Pool should that happen.

Festival of Light Expecting Large Turnouts

With just two more weekends before Christmas, thousands more visitors will be making their way to Chickasha for the Festival of Light this weekend. The Festival will again offer the Santa Shuttle from the Leg Lamp downtown to Shannon Springs Park. Families will get immediate access to the park by taking the shuttle. The cost is $2 for a round trip. Chickasha Wings also offers airplane rides over the Festival from the Chickasha Airport. The flights last about 20 minutes. The festival is open from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. tonight and tomorrow.

Annual Wine, Craft Show is Tomorrow

The Grady County Fairgrounds will have another big craft show this weekend. The third annual Wine and Craft Show will feature more than 125 vendors. Admission is free and there will be free photos with Santa and the Grinch. That will be in the north exhibit building at the fairgrounds from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. tomorrow only.

Santa's Workshop Toy Parade also Tomorrow

The annual Cycle Santa Toy Parade to benefit Santa's Workshop will also be held tomorrow. Parade participants will begin gathering at the fairgrounds about noon with the parade starting at 1:00 p.m. All modes of transportation are welcome and individuals are asked to bring a new and unwrapped toy. The parade will leave the fairgrounds and travel west on Choctaw Avenue to 4^th Street, then south on 4^th Street to the Southland Shopping Center where they will gather behind CVS Pharmacy and AT&T. Fundraising continues tomorrow night at the Eagles Lodge where there will be an Indian taco dinner and silent auction starting at 6:00 p.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYEX is $70.91 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.29.

Natural gas is $3.48 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,686 and silver is $31.33.

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Thursday, Dec. 12th

Traffic Accident Claims Life of Pocasset Woman

One person died and another was hospitalized in traffic accident east of Chickasha late yesterday afternoon. The accident happened just before 5 p.m. about five miles east of Chickasha at the Tabler Y. That's the junction of U.S. Highway 62 and State Highway 39 and is a frequent site of bad traffic accidents. Killed in the crash was 73-year old Stephany Rumley of Pocasset. She was a passenger in a car driven by 72-year old Allen Rumley. Allen was taken to OU Medical Center by Chickasha EMS where he was last in stable condition. The driver of the other vehicle identified as 39-year old Mario Villar of Chickasha was taken by a private vehicle to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was treated and released. 

Newcastle Schools Loses OSSAA Appeal

Newcastle Public Schools lost its appeal regarding a complaint the district filed after last week's Newcastle-Guthrie football game in the Class 5A semi-finals. Newcastle Superintendent Cathy Walker had asked the OSSAA to look into allegations that Guthrie used an illegal coach. Guthrie won the game 35-30 to advance to the 5A title game against Carl Albert. The OSSAA initially said that no rule was broken. Guthrie school officials said they looked into the matter and that the issue was being handled internally. Walker asked the OSSAA board to take another look at the issue in a meeting yesterday (Wednesday) however the 13-member board unanimously voted to not re-consider.  OSSAA officials said the rule Newcastle referred to was for players and not coaches. After the meeting, Walker wrote that it was clear the OSSAA functions under intent and not how the rules are written. She said it wasn't about the game and losing - it was about rules and following the rules. Walker said Newcastle was not asking for Guthrie to forfeit, rather that the coach and its program be considered for sanctions.

Festival of Light Partners with OU College of Engineering

Among the changes made to this year's Festival of Light was making the 170-foot tall lighted Christmas tree come alive by making the estimated 25,000 lights appear to move and change colors. This is part of a two-year project between the Festival of Light and the Gallogly College of Engineering at OU. Randa Shehab is the associate dean at the school and said students are using the skills they are learning and applying them in the real world.

That will include synchronizing the lights to music next year. Shehab said the school is always looking to get students involved in community projects.

Teen's Love of Tractors Leads to Diesel Engine Training

16-year old Gus Crawford of Pocasset has always had a fascination with tractors. He got his first tractor, a 1949 Ferguson, when he was seven years old and now has several other vintage tractors. Today, Crawford is part of Canadian Valley Technology Center's Diesel Technology Program at the school's El Reno campus. He says diesel engines fascinate him and when he completes the program he may drive a truck or work on them as his grandfather runs a trucking company in Western Oklahoma, or that farming will always be an option.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.20 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.41.

Natural gas is $3.36 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,740 and silver is $32.81.

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Wednesday, Dec. 11th

Chix Planning Commission Denies 

Rezoning Proposal for Homeless Advocate

It was standing room only during a public hearing at Chickasha City Hall yesterday as residents and business owners voiced their opposition to a proposal designed to increase services to the homeless. Dozens of people packed yesterday's meeting of the Planning Commission which considered a petition to rezone property at 3rd and Minnesota from residential to commercial use. The petition was submitted by Heidi Harrison of Heidi Helping the Homeless. The proposal sought to allow an area for Harrison's employees and the homeless to smoke, eat lunch, and charge phones. City Planner Rachel Bernish said the proposal does not fit the city's long-range plans in that neighborhood and that an illegal structure had been built there. She said her office received 18 letters and three phone calls opposing the issue and only four letters of support. During the 45-minute public hearing more than a dozen people discussed their opposition to the plan including Jewel Givens who lives nearby-

Officials with Chickasha Public Schools also opposed the plan as the Lincoln School Intermediate Center is just a couple of blocks away. Assistant Superintendent Pam Ladyman said the school has had to go on lockdown several times due to disturbances in the area-

Only two people spoke in favor of the re-zoning. Tiffany Aduddell serves on the board which oversees Heidi Helping the Homeless and told KOOL-RANCH News-

Harrison did attend the meeting but did not speak. The five-member Planning Commission unanimously voted against the re-zoning proposal.

Suspect Accused of Assaulting Pregnant Girlfriend

A Chickasha man is accused of choking and assaulting his pregnant girlfriend. 24-year old Caleb Andrew King was arrested after police were called to the Valley View Apartments on Sunday. A probable cause affidavit alleges that King and his girlfriend were arguing and the situation turned physical. Prosecutors have charged King with felonies of assault and battery by strangulation and assault and battery against a pregnant woman. He remains in jail on a $100,000 bond.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.87.

Natural gas is $3.26 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,726 and silver is $32.57.

Obituary

Larry Bookout

A graveside service for Larry Bookout, 69, of Columbus, Texas was held at 11:00 a.m. this morning (Wednesday, Dec. 11^th) at Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam and also worked as an architect in commercial design and construction. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

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Tuesday, Dec. 10th

Controversy Arises in High School Football Playoff Game

Newcastle Public School officials say they will appeal a decision by the OSSAA which decided to take no action regarding allegations that an illegal coach was involved in a high school football game. The game was between Newcastle and Guthrie in the semi-finals of the Class 4A football playoffs last Friday. The Oklahoman reports that social media posts alleged a former Guthrie coach - who now is an assistant at Deer Creek - was back on the Guthrie sidelines calling plays despite no longer being employed by Guthrie schools.  Newcastle superintendent Cathy Walker issued a statement saying an OSSAA rule indicates that an individual who represented a school during the current season cannot participate either attached or un-attached for that team for the remainder of the school year. Guthrie Superintendent Mike Simpson said he investigated the complaint and said that no OSSAA rules were broken and that the incident would be handled internally. Guthrie defeated Newcastle 35-30 to advance to the 5A state title game against Carl Albert. Walker said she'll appeal the decision at an OSSAA Board meeting tomorrow.

Oklahoma Has Nation's Lowest Fuel Prices

You've no doubt noticed that the price you pay at the pump is falling. Matt Skinner has this report from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission-

A number of employees for the City of Anadarko were recognized for reaching milestones in their time working for the city. According to a post on the city's Facebook page Gary Tsoodle, EJ Sorrels, Dustin Richardson, and Paul Pittman have been with the city for 15 years; Elvin Sapp, Charles Maldonado, Hayden Young, and James Coker all have 10 years of service; and Joe Oswalt, Stephen Capshew and Josiah Lovett have been with the city for five years. The awards were presented during the city's annual safety banquet.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.81 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.57.

Natural gas is $3.12 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,695 and silver is $32.45.

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Monday, Dec. 9th

Hearing Set Related to Chix Manufacturing Fires (again)

There has been very little information reported about the huge hand sanitizer fire that destroyed the old Chickasha Manufacturing Company more than two years ago. The Southwest Ledger reports that a hearing is set in Grady County District Court next week on an emergency application for a temporary injunction to prevent Brannan Bordwine from storing or disposing supplies of hand sanitizer. The hearing on the application from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) was originally scheduled in December of 2022 but has been rescheduled five times. The hearing is now set for next Tuesday, Dec. 17th. Bordwine was storing pallets of unsold and recalled methanol-laced hand sanitizer at two locations in Chickasha and one in Ninnekah. Five fires broke out at the three sites between August of 2022 and July of 2023. The DEQ said neither Bordwine nor his companies had a permit to treat, store, or dispose of the sanitizer which the DEQ determined was hazardous waste. The DEQ fined Bordwine more than $6.5 million. The Ledger reports that a Bordwine attorney said he has appealed the fine and requested a hearing before an administrative law judge.

Petition Asks for Re-zoning of Lot

Near Center Which Aids the Homeless

A proposal to re-zone a vacant lot near an outlet that serves the homeless to allow smoking, eating, and charging of cell phones is among several issues to be considered by the City of Chickasha's Planning Commission this week. Heidi Harrison of Heidi Helping the Homeless is asking the panel to consider a petition to rezone a vacant lot across the street from her building 3rd and Minnesota from residential to commercial use. If approved it would allow her employees as well as the homeless to use the area. The property is just a couple of blocks from the Lincoln School Intermediate Center. Regardless of the planning commission's ruling the proposal will go before the Chickasha City Council for a final decision when that panel meets next Monday.

Other public hearings also scheduled

Other hearings for the planning commission include one for an oversized building at 506 W. Oregon for applicant Shawn Oliver, and one for a request for a right-of-way closure from the Canadian Valley Technology Center. The commission will also consider a Use-on-Review to sell alcohol at 234 E. Grand Extension. The panel will meet at 4:00 p.m. tomorrow at city hall.

Chix Schools Employees-of-the-Month,

Site Teachers of the Year to be Recognized

Site teachers of the year and employees of the month of Chickasha Public Schools will be recognized during tonight's Chickasha school board meeting. Site teachers are Kelsey Ridder at Bill Wallace, Christian McCarter at Grand Elementary, Dominique Golightly at the Lincoln School Intermediate Center, Lacee Broyles at the middle school, and Jen Jantzen at the high school. The Chicken Express Employees of the Month are from Grand Elementary. The ertified employee is Courtney Samperi and the Support Employee is Anita Nacoste. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.12 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.97.

Natural gas is $3.23 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,679 and silver is $32.16.

Obituaries

Carl Wilkerson, Jr.

A memorial service for Carl Wilkerson, Jr. 45, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14th at Trinity Baptist Church. He was a builder for Willowbrook, worked in the energy industry, and volunteered with the Alex Fire Department and Grady County Emergency Management.

Doran Pierce

No service is scheduled for Doran Pierce, 49, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Dec. 7th

Grady County Lawmaker Appoints State Senate Leadership Posts

State Senator Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle has announced his selections to lead senate committees in the next legislative session. Paxton is President Pro Tem of the senate. He said it is a strong group of individuals who will collectively move the state forward. In energy-related areas, Sen. Darcy Jech of Kingfisher whose district includes much of Caddo County will chair the Aerospace and Transportation Committee; Sen. Avery Frix of Muskogee will be vice chair. Sen. Ally Seifried of Claremore will chair the Technology and Telecommunications Committee which will be co-chaired by Jech. Sen Tom Woods of Westville will chair the General Government and Transportation Committee, which will be co-chaired by Sen. Darrell Weaver of Moore. Weaver has ties to Chickasha and Duncan as he and wife Kim own medical clinics in those communities. Sen. Grant Green of Wellston will chair the Energy Committee with Sen. Tom Woods of Westville appointed vice chair;  Sen. Kristen Thompson of Edmond will lead the Natural Resources Committee which will be co-chaired by Sen. Casey Murdoch of Felt. The legislative session will begin in February.

Festival of Light Falls in National Poll; Still a Top 10 Holiday Light Display

Chickasha's Festival of Light remains among the top 10 holiday light displays in the United States. That's according a survey by USA Today asking readers to cast votes. However the Festival dropped from No. 2 last year to No. 6 this year.  For the second straight year, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, Minnesota was voted No. 1. Surpassing the Festival of Light were displays in West Palm Beach, Florida; Ogen, Utah; Riverside, California; and Denver, Colorado.

Shuttle rides now offered on weekends

The Festival of Light is now offering shuttle rides Friday and Saturday nights from the Leg Lamp downtown to Shannon Springs Park. Festival goers can park downtown and choose from the many eateries, shop for souvenirs, and of course get pics with the Leg Lamp. The shuttle rides will be available both nights through Saturday. Dec. 21st. A round trip ticket is $2 per person and can be purchased at Downtown Mercantile and the Visitors Center next to the Leg Lamp.  The shuttles will run every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The last shuttle leaves the park about 10:45 p.m. Ticket sales benefit Chickasha Public Schools which is providing the shuttles and the drivers.

Chickasha's Lighted Christmas Parade Tonight

Chickasha's annual lighted Christmas parade will be tonight. More than 25 groups are entered with holiday-inspired floats using the theme of Christmas Toyland. The parade route will start at the YMCA at 8^th and Chickasha Avenue and head east where it will disburse at the Leg Lamp. The parade gets underway at 6:00 p.m.

Talk Show Topic

Sue Getman with the Chickasha Area Arts Council and Amy Rutherford with the Chickasha Community Theater will discuss their organizations and an upcoming community meeting with the Oklahoma Arts Council. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

Obituary

Carl Wilkerson, Jr.

A memorial service for Carl Wilkerson, Jr., 45, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14th at Trinity Baptist Church. He was a builder for Willowbrook, worked in the energy industry, and was a volunteer with the Alex Fire Department and Grady County Emergency Management. Memorial contributions may be made to the church for Valerie Lam's project to make bears for needy children.

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Friday, Dec. 6th

Grady County Emergency Management Office

to Close Lobby for Weeks Due to Sewer Line Work

A sewer line replacement project at the Grady County Emergency Management Agency office will cause a few changes in operations over the next few weeks. Director Dale Thompson said the office will be open but the lobby will be closed for at least a month. Visitors will have to call the office and an employee will allow them in through a separate secured entry. Thompson also said the passport office will be closed for the duration of the work. Temporary closure will start on Monday, Dec. 9^th and is expected to be in effect for up to five weeks. The target date for completion is Jan. 6th.

More School Board Filings

We have an update regarding candidates who filed to run for local school board posts earlier this week.  At Dibble, Jennifer Mandrell filed un-opposed; at Blanchard Nicholas Hawker and Ryan Keeler both filed; at Newcastle, Jeremy Gilbertson and James Orton filed; at Lindsay, Michael Holden filed un-opposed and for Mid America Technology Center Donna Stokes of Blanchard filed un-opposed. 

Weekend Shuttles to Chix Festival of Light Begin Tonight

Attendance at Chickasha's Festival of Light should be increasing this weekend. Starting tonight, the festival will offer shuttle rides from the downtown Leg Lamp to the festival at Shannon Springs Park on Friday and Saturday nights through Saturday, Dec. 21st. Tickets are $2 per person for a round trip and can be purchased at Downtown Mercantile and Chickasha Visitors Center next to the Leg Lamp.  The shuttles will run every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The shuttle will take individuals straight into the park and families can stay as long as they like. The last shuttle will leave the park about 11:00 p.m.

Minco Honey Festival is Tomorrow

Did you know that Oklahoma's official insect is the bee? You can learn that and more as Minco will host its annual honey festival. This is the 34th year for the event which will include tours of the Ross Honey Plant. It's the state's largest honey-processing facility. Festival goers can also get tours of the Great Plains Cotton Gin and area wind turbines. There will be numerous arts and craft vendors, a honey bake-off, and Santa Claus will take time out of his work at the North Pole to stop by. The Minco Chamber of Commerce estimates about 3,000 people attend each year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.67 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.43.

Natural gas is $3.01 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,658 and silver is $31.67.

Obituary

Clyde Hare

A graveside service for Clyde Hare, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He owned and operated Hare Pipeline Construction. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Dec. 5th

School Board Filings Listed; Four Candidates at Ninnekah

The three-day filing period for candidates wanting to run for school board offices ended yesterday. Here are some of the filings in the region.

Grady County 

Christy Clift filed un-opposed for the post she holds at Chickasha; four candidates have filed at Ninnekah including Bruce Trammell, Ricky Austin, Mark Fulton, and Damon Stephens; Stephanie Adams ran un-opposed at Amber-Pocasset; Gary Gall and Jason Knowles have filed at Friend; Jeff Martin filed un-opposed at Pioneer; and Derek Williams filed un-opposed at Middleberg. At Verden, two candidates filed un-opposed for separate offices - Stephanie Hale for Office 3 and Jeff Dunkin for Office 5. At Alex, it's Laurie Drennan and Keith Alcorn; At Rush Springs Lance Melton and Brittany McWilliams filed; At Minco, Mike Herrell and Don McMahon applied.  At Bridge Creek, Kent Sugg filed unopposed; and at Tuttle, Karen Osborn filed un-opposed. There were also a couple of un-opposed filings for Tuttle Town Council seats.  They are Sarah Hites in Ward 4 and James Saye in Ward 3.

Caddo County

For Anadarko Board of Education incumbent Clarissa Davilla is being challenged by Debbie Gerst; at Cement, Patrick Nolan and Christina Seymour filed; for the Caddo Kiowa Technology Center, incumbent Lance Shenold is being challenged by Patrick Michael Hays. Filing unopposed were Dustin Rhodes at Cyril; Jan Bailey at Gracemont; Brent Lankister at Ft. Cobb-Broxton; Tanner Kelley at Carnegie; Kylie Toho at Binger-Oney; James Patterson at Apache; Jami Radacy at Lookeba-Sickles; Ethan Murray at Hinton; and Brandon Strack at Hydro-Eakly.

Knife-wielding Man in Custody for Alleged Attack

A Grady County man with a history of violence is back in jail now accused of assaulting three people including a police officer. 36-year old Kaleb Broden of Tuttle was arrested last weekend after Tuttle police were called to investigate a disturbance at an apartment complex. Court documents indicate the officer encountered Broden who was wielding a knife and pointing at several people. It's also alleged that Broden threatened the officer with the weapon. Broden eventually threw the knife into one of the apartments and he was taken into custody and then to the Grady County Jail. Prosecutors have charged him with two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor for assault on a police officer. A judge set his bond at $250,000. Broden was arrested this spring for domestic abuse and arrested in September of last year on two DUI complaints.

State Arts Council to Visit Chickasha as Part of Listening Tour

A couple of Chickasha groups known for their artistic talents want your input on events you'd like to see and experience in the future. The Chickasha Community Theatre and the Chickasha Arts Council will host a representative from the state arts council for a listening session next week. The goal is to develop arts programs which meet the needs of the each area. Oklahoma Arts Council officials are holding these meetings statewide to create a five-year strategic plan to run from 2026 to 2030. The program will be held next Thursday, Dec. 12th at the Chickasha Arts Council headquarters in downtown Chickasha. Officials ask that you RSVP to reserve a seat. Send an e-mail to chandra.boyd@arts.ok.gov

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.68.

Natural gas is $3.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,672 and silver is $31.84.

Obituary

Jerry Witt

Funeral service for Jerry Witt, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Airforce veteran, a certified flight instructor, and an insurance adjustor.

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Wednesday, Dec. 4th

Deputy Suffers Broken Leg in Scuffle with Suspect

A Grady County deputy is recovering after suffering a broken leg during a scuffle with a reckless driving suspect. A probable cause affidavit indicates Deputy Keith Williams had to be taken to a hospital after the brawl. He had been called out to a rural area east of the I-44 and Highway 4 junction this past Saturday to investigate a report of a reckless driver. Williams encountered two men who had stopped a short distance from where the call came in. One of the men had a knife and a fight between the officer and the armed man ensued. The deputy was able to disarm the suspect and heard a 'snap' in his left ankle while taking the suspect down. The fight continued until Williams was able to tase the suspect and he managed to get him in the back of his SUV. He then called for back-up where Deputy Auston Worth took over the investigation while Williams was taken to a hospital by an ambulance.  X-rays indicated he suffered a broken fibula and he was treated and released. The suspect, 30-year old Gerardo Peralta-Ruiz of Oklahoma City, was taken to the Grady County Jail. He's charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and his bond was set at $100,000.

Teen Accused of Lewd Acts to a Child

A teenager is arrested for allegedly asking a 12-year old to have sex with him.  A probable cause affidavit indicates Tyler Chase Burley, 18, of Blanchard had asked the girl to have relations with him several times. An arrest warrant was issued for Burley last week and he was arrested early Tuesday morning. The girl told investigators that Burley never touched her inappropriately. He is facing one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 and he remains in jail on a $100,000 bond.

2025 Spring Chix City Council Election Scheduled

The Chickasha City Council approved a resolution to hold the annual city council election next spring. Four council seats are up for election which includes the posts for Ward 1 Councilman Brian Gerdes, Ward 2 Councilwoman Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Ward 3 Councilman Oscar Nelson, and Ward 4 councilman Kelly Boyd and all are for two year terms. The filing period will be Feb. 2nd through 4^th at Chickasha City Hall and there is a $25 filing fee. The election will be Tuesday, April 1st.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.00

Natural gas is $3.02 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,667 and silver is $31.35.

Obituaries

Sharon Parks

A memorial service for Sharon Parks, 78, of Chickasha was held at 11:00 a.m. this morning at SonRise Baptist Church. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.

Jessie Rush

A graveside service for Jessie Rush, 62, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6th at the Sayre-Doxey Cemetery in Sayre. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to local animal shelters or any charity.

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Tuesday, Dec. 3rd

Chix  Council OK's Firefighter Contract

A new two-year agreement has been reached between the Chickasha Firefighters Association and the Chickasha City Council. The council unanimously approved the pact with International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 2041 after a 31-minute executive session during last night's council meeting. The agreement is for two years and runs through fiscal year 2026. No details of the contract were disclosed.

Infrastructure projects OK'd

The council also approved the new waterline installation project in the area of Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad. The cost of the project is just over $480,000. The panel also approved the ongoing sewer line replacement in the 400 block of Colorado Avenue. The cost of that work is more than $160,000.

Food for Fines Program Erases Thousands in Fines

That Food for Fines program for the City of Chickasha's Municipal Court was a success. Officials say nearly $3,000 in fines were forgiven for 30 individuals during last month's campaign. Many brought more items than required and some who didn't have fines also brought non-perishable foods, all of which were donated to the Emergency Food Pantry.

School Board Candidate Filings

Grady County

A number of candidates came forward on the first day of filing for local school boards. In Grady County, there were no filings for Chickasha; Keith Alcorn and Laurie Drennan filed at Alex; Don McMahon filed at Minco; Lance Melton of Marlow filed at Rush Springs; Derek Williams filed at Middleberg; Kent Sugg filed at Blanchard; and Karen Osborn has filed at Tuttle.

Caddo County

In Caddo County, Jan Bailey filed at Gracemont; Kylie Toho filed at Binger-Oney; James Patterson filed filed at Apache; Lance Shenold and Patrick Michael Hayes filed at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center; and Jami Radacy filed at Lookeba-Sickles. The filing period runs through 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Animal Shelter Volunteer Recognized

A Grady County woman is honored for her nearly 30 years of volunteering to rescue hundreds of abandoned dogs and cats. Marie Maston was recognized for her work with the Chickasha animal shelter during last night's Chickasha City Council meeting. Mayor Zach Grayson signed a proclamation citing Monday, Dec. 2nd as Marie Maston Day. Police Chief GG Music praised her work-

Maston has logged more than 12,000 hours in her nearly 20 years at the shelter which includes working with the Chickasha Animal Rescue Transport division that helps to find homes for rescued animals. She continues her work while also battling cancer.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.73 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.44.

Natural gas is $3.18 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,666 and silver is $31.40.

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Monday, Dec. 2nd

Chix Council to OK Infrastructure Work

Water line and sewer line upgrades are expected to get final authorization from the Chickasha City Council tonight. One is a more than $480,000 project for a water line at Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad.  The council gave its approval to award the bid to Bear Creek Construction at its last meeting. The panel is also expected to award a nearly $165,000 project to  upgrade a sewer line in the 400 block of Colorado Avenue to Leetech Services out of South Dakota.

Swimming pool rehab work also to get final OK

The group is also expected to move forward with renovation and rehabilitation work on the municipal swimming pool in Shannon Springs Park. The $450,000 project was recently awarded to Sunbelt Pools. The contract calls for the work to be done by March 1st of next year.

Panel to consider reimbursing property owner paying for drainage project

Also to be considered is an agreement to reimburse a property owner in the 200 block of Willow Creek up to $20,000 to make some drainage improvements in that neighborhood. The panel will also consider accepting a $5,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation to purchase body armor for the police department. The group will also go behind closed doors to get an update on the status of negotiations and a possible contract with the Chickasha Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 2041. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

School Board Filing Period Underway

Individuals interested in running for a post on their local school boards have three days to file for offices to be filled. The filing period opens this morning and runs through Wednesday afternoon. Candidates should check with their school administration offices to see which offices are to be filled. In Chickasha it is office No. 5 which is the seat current held by Christy Clift. Candidates will need to file at the county election board in the county where their school district is located. After the filing period ends there will be a two-day period for individuals to withdraw their candidacies or for anyone who may want to challenge the qualifications of potential candidates. If there are challenges the election board will hold a hearing. The primary school elections are set for February 11th and if any run-offs will be needed they will be held April 1st.

More Upgrades Begin at I-35 and SH-9 Interchange

Motorists who go to Norman via the State Highway 9 and I-35 junction may want to choose another route for the next several months. Another phase of construction to upgrade that interchange begins today and officials say it could take up to two years to complete. The project will widen I-35 to six lanes from the Canadian River Bridge to Goldsby. It will also include some roundabout additions on Highway 9 for local streets. Traffic will be narrowed to one lane in each direction on Highway 9 and some occasional lane closures on I-35. Officials say there is no planned detour and drivers should prepare for congestion and delays.

Animal, Food Science Specialist to Address Ag Producers

Ag producers in the region will meet tomorrow morning for the first of their two informative sessions which are held each month. Jason Smith, a senior OSU Extension specialist in animal and food science, will give a presentation and take questions. The programs are held the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Grady County OSU Extension office at 7:00 a.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.68 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.57.

Natural gas is $3.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,664 and silver is $30.82.

Obituaries

David Farley

A memorial service for David Farley, 56, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked in the oilfield and for the City of Chickasha. Memorial contributions may be made to the David Farley Fund at the funeral home.

Jeffrey Cheadle

Funeral service for 63-year old Jeffrey Cheadle will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7th at the Bryant Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Nov. 30th

PSO Rate Hike Request Faces Scrutiny by State Regulators

Officials with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission are concerned about a 15 percent rate hike proposed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO).  The website OK Energy Today cites one commissioner as saying the rate hike could mean as much as a $35 increase for PSO customers. The proposal is part of a settlement agreement with groups opposed to the rate hike although the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was not included in those groups - and AARP has filed a challenge to the settlement. It was suggested that the corporation commission could put a cap on rate hikes but an attorney for the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers say if a cap is put in place they would withdraw from the settlement. If a rate increase is approved it would not go into effect until 2027. A representative from the state attorney general's office said if the commission continues to delay its decision the impact could be larger down the road as PSO could request another rate hike in January of 2026.

Festival of Light Nominated Again for top Holiday Display in America

Chickasha's Festival of Light (FOL) is again among the candidates for the top ten holiday light shows in the U.S. The survey is being conducted by USA Today in its Readers Choice Awards. FOL finished runner-up in the survey last year. The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is urging individuals to cast their votes by going to the website: www10best.usatoday.com

You can vote once a day but the voting ends at noon Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. The final rankings will be out about noon on Friday, Dec. 6th. Other nominations include last year's winner The Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, Minnesota.

Former Radio Announcer Keith Michaels Passes Away

The staff and management of Mollman Media mourn the passing of former radio announcer Keith Michaels. Keith passed away recently just a few days shy of his 70th birthday following a lengthy illness. Born Keith Vazquez he spent several years on the air on our sister station KOOL 105.5 and also at stations in Lawton, Weatherford, and Wichita Falls. After his on-air career he worked in public relations for the Kiowa Tribe where he produced a weekly Kiowa Voices radio program, helped to carry on the legacy of the Kiowa Newspaper, and was the announcer and videographer of the American Indian Expo parade. He is survived by his wife of more than 35 years, Herbette and two children and their families. Funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. today (Saturday, Nov. 30^th) at Cedar Creek United Methodist Church in Carnegie. Services were under the direction of Ray and Martha's Funeral Home in Carnegie.

Obituaries

Veronica Bowen

A graveside service for Veronica Bowen, 80, was held at 1:00 p.m. today (Saturday, Nov. 30th) at the Verden Cemetery. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.

Jerry Miller

Funeral service for Jerry Miller, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked at Badgett's Machine Shop and OG&E-Enogex.

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Saturday, Nov. 23rd

Report: Corporation Commission Efforts

Curb Fracking-Related Earthquakes 

Regulations implemented by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) have been helping to minimize earthquakes believed to be caused by fracking. That's according to a report published by The Seismic Record, an on-line journal which covers seismological science. The OCC  issued guidelines to limit where and how much oil and gas wastewater is injected underground and the report says the move has reduced the number of strong earthquakes in drilling areas. The commission issued more than 30 directives in an attempt to reduce the potential for fracking-induced tremors. The report says that limiting injection rates through the combination of volume reductions and well plug-backs was likely an effective strategy for minimizing earthquake hazards.

Congressman Tom Cole Says Effort is Lacking

in Cases of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women

Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole says more work is needed to stem the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. Cole spoke about the crisis during a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies this week. Cole pointed to data from the Centers for Disease Control which indicate that native women and girls experience a murder rate 10 times higher than the national average, and that Oklahoma is No. 2 on the list of  the top 10 states with Native American and Alaska native missing persons cases. He said while the statistics are alarming data collection is lacking and it will require sufficient awareness and resources to solve the crisis.

Electricity Expected to be Plentiful Through the Winter

A new report indicates that power companies are expected to be able provide ample electricity to consumers this winter. Officials with the Southwest Power Pool, which is responsible for coordinating electric reliability in 14 Midwestern states, have conducted an annual assessment to identify and thwart threats to energy reliability throughout the winter months from December to March. The website OK Energy Today reports that the power pool anticipates a 98.5 percent probability that it will have sufficient resources to meet projected peak demand for electricity and to maintain energy reserves. The analysis takes into account historical and predicted electricity use, weather forecasts, the variability of available wind energy, drought conditions, and generation and transmission outages. Officials say while the forecast shows a positive outlook for consumers they must be vigilant and plan for growing power demands in the future.

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Friday, Nov. 22nd

Festival of Light Kicks Off 2024 Season

Tens of thousands of visitors will be making their way to Chickasha over the next few weeks to check out The Festival of Light. There was a soft opening for local residents at Shannon Springs Park last night as officials flipped the switch on the 170-foot tall lighted Christmas tree. The tree has all new lights this year as festival officials teamed up with the OU College of Engineering over the next two years to have students re-design the tree to have thousands of programmable LED lights. Next year the lights will be set to music. There is an entirely new North Pole Village in the 43-acre park which includes a couple of large heated tents which can be rented for private events including weddings. Festival Director Matt Stockman said the more than 100 lighted displays have been re-organized-

The lighted pedestrian bridge over the pond is another feature. There will be a grand opening of the festival tonight with a short ceremony at 6 p.m. to include the USAO music department's band and choir. The festival will open at 6 p.m. every night through Dec. 31^st with hours until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Chickasha Wings will again offer airplane rides over the park each night with flights originating from the airport. The flights last about 20 minutes.

4Her Says Holidays are Time to be Thankful, Thoughtful

As we enter the holiday season it's easy to get caught up in what goes into the celebrations. Emma Williamson with the Grady County Rock Island 4H Club says we should think about those who are less fortunate and consider lending a hand to any number of worthy projects-

Natural Gas Prices on the Rise

The price of natural gas soared yesterday due in part to the latest report from the Energy Information Administration as well as colder weather hitting much of the country. Here's Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission-

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.10 barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.27.

Natural gas is $3.34 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,730 and silver is $31.81.

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Thursday, Nov. 21st

Festival of Light to Begin 32nd Year

Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park will again be glowing with millions of lights this year as the Festival of Light begins a more than six-week run through the holiday season. More than 3 1/2 million lights will twinkle with the centerpiece being the 170-foot tall lighted Christmas tree said to be the tallest lighted Christmas tree in the state. The festival has a soft opening tonight for local residents with a formal opening tomorrow night. Festival of Light Director Matt Stockman said all the 25,000 plus lights on the big tree this year are new and are part of a two-year plan with the University of Oklahoma to make other upgrades. Stockman talks about some other additions to the Festival-

There are camel and carriage rides, an ice skating rink, a Ferris wheel, and other activities. The park will be open to foot and bicycle traffic only tonight from 6-8 p.m. The Tree Lighting ceremony will be at 7 p.m. and will be in a staging area near the tree to include a special performance by an ensemble of the Pride of OU Marching Band. The gift shop will also be open. The grand opening of the park will be tomorrow night with a ceremony starting at 6 p.m. which will include performances from the USAO music department's choir and band.

Grady Memorial CEO to Retire

After spending parts of five decades in the medical profession, Kean Spellman, the Chief Executive Officer of Grady Memorial Hospital will be retiring. Spellman has spent 45 years in the field with the last 12 at Grady Memorial. A press release issued by the hospital said Spellman will be stepping down in March of next year. Spellman says the hospital has survived a number of challenges during his tenure including a time when the state health department shut down the operating rooms. County voters approved a 1/4 of a penny sales tax to build new ones and make other improvements. He also guided the hospital through COVID and says the hospital is once again doing well-

The hospital board of directors has begun a comprehensive search to find a new CEO working with a professional health care recruiting firm to find candidates.

Self-Defense Course Donations Benefits ICAN Program

A recent self-defense course organized by the Grady County Sheriff's Office resulted in thousands of dollars in contributions to help a non-profit group that helps victims of domestic violence. Capt. Carrie Boggess helped put together the free training program held at Wilcoxen's Academy during Domestic Violence Awareness Month a few weeks ago. The course was free but officials asked for contributions which resulted in more than $3,000 being donated to the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network (ICAN). The sheriff's office supports ICAN's mission of  intervening in times of crisis; advocating for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking; and networking with community partners to empower victims to become survivors. Abuse victims can reach out to ICAN 24-hours a day by calling 405-222-1818.

Chix Publics Schools Holds Blanket Drive

Chickasha Public Schools have begun a blanket drive with the blankets to be given to students within the district. Drop off locations are the administration office at 9th and Choctaw and the Enrollment Center at 7th and Kansas. The deadline for donations is Dec. 13th. For information reach out to the district's social worker Macy Barnett by calling 405-312-0947.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.94.

Natural gas is $3.39 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,696 and silver is $31.53.

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Wednesday, Nov. 20th

Suspects Arrested for Copper Theft, Construction Site Damage

Authorities arrest two men for reportedly stealing copper and causing nearly $200,000 in damage at a construction site near Amber. Grady County deputies were called to the 1700 block of CS 2840 Saturday. A probable cause affidavit indicates two workers who arrived on the scene saw two suspects had a lot of copper tubing in the back of their truck. There was a brief confrontation and the two suspects threatened the workers with pipes. The suspects eventually drove away and one of the workers was able to get the tag number of the truck. Shortly after the sheriff's office dispatched a be-on-the-lookout message Chickasha police notified the sheriff's office they had the suspects detained at the Castle Inn. In custody are 31-year old Jacob Logan Reid of Chickasha and 47-year old Brian Dale Brewer of Wilburton. Both are charged with felonies of burglary and stealing copper. Reid is also charged with a misdemeanor for threatening violence. Brewer is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $100,000 bond and Reid on a $50,000 bond. The workers said that 17 commercial air conditioning units were destroyed and each is valued at about $12,000.

New Cable, Internet Service Provider OK'd for Chix

Chickasha residents will have another cable TV and Internet service provider to choose from. The city council this week approved a non-exclusive cable TV franchise agreement with Clarity Telecom which is doing business as BluePeak. At this week's city council meeting BluePeak representative Randy Buetler said the company is based out of North Dakota and has been in Oklahoma about three years. The company is already providing cable and fiber services in Elk City, Clinton, Altus, Shawnee, Stillwater, Enid and other cities. He said the company plans to invest nearly $6 million to install cable lines that would serve the entire city. He said residential uploading and downloading Internet speeds would be up to one gigabyte and commercial speeds up to 10 gigabytes. Installation is expected to start sometime next spring.

First National Bank to Close Alex, Cyril, Rush Springs Banks

The First National Bank and Trust has announced it will be closing its banks in Alex, Cyril, and Rush Springs. In a prepared statement Chief Executive Officer John Gorton says the world is becoming more connected through digital channels. He said customers have increased their use of debit cards, on-line personal and business banking, and that the use of digital tools has reduced the need for face-to-face banking. Gorton said while the banks will be closing the employees will be moving to other First National locations. He said customers with safety deposit boxes will be contacted for the next steps as plans evolve. He said First National will continue to attend, sponsor, and boost events in those communities, support students through scholarships, and back the Grady County Junior Livestock Show. The buildings will be donated to the communities to be used as city and school officials deem appropriate.

Churches to Offer Free Thanksgiving Meals

Thanksgiving is a little over a week away. A number of Chickasha churches are combining efforts to provide free Thanksgiving meals for those who are homebound or won't have access to a family gathering. To have meals delivered individuals can contact New Life Christian Church by calling 405-222-5433 before noon next Tuesday, Nov. 26th. Meals will be delivered between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. To-go meals will be available to pick up from the Chickasha Soup Kitchen at 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue from noon to 1 p.m. The meals are free however donations are welcome.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.09 per barrel.

London-based Brent Crude is $73.82.

Natural gas is $2.99 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,634 and silver is $31.51.

Obituaries

Nancy Taylor

Funeral service for Nancy Taylor, 83, of Chickasha will be at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon (Wednesday, Nov. 20^th) at Southern Oaks Church of Christ. She worked at the family business of Taylor and Sons Pipe and Steel and was a librarian at Chickasha Junior High School. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Ron Faulkinberry

A memorial service for Ron Faulkinberry, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22nd at Chickasha's First Assembly of God Church. He was a pastor for more than 60 years. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Nov. 19th

New Chix City Manager Sworn In

Jim Crosby is now officially Chickasha's new city manager. Crosby took his oath of office from city attorney Amanda Mullins during last night's city council meeting. Crosby follows Keith Johnson as the city's top administrator. Johnson has had the post for about a year and a half but announced last month he had accepted a new job in Washington State. He will remain on staff until December 31st to assist Crosby with the transition. His base salary will be about $140,000 per year.

Contract awarded for emergency repairs to broken waterline 

The council gave final approval for emergency repairs of a broken waterline in the north part of the city. A ruptured line was discovered last month underneath the Stillwater National Railroad tracks near the water treatment plant. The council approved a bid of more than $280,000 from Mitchell Trenching to repair and/or replace the line.

Several police department vehicles purchased

The council approved the purchase of three vehicles for the police department. One of them is a new 2025 Ford F250 Crew Cab pickup from Bill Knight Ford of Tulsa on a state contract. The cost is just over $48,000 and is for the animal control division. A Chevy Tahoe was purchased from the Mustang Police Department for $40,000, and a 2023 Dodge Durango was purchased for just over $39,000 from the Kansas Highway Patrol. The Durango is a Police Interceptor Unit with all-wheel drive.

Submerged boat docks removed from Lake Chickasha

The panel approved payment to a contractor for the removal of several dilapidated boat docks at Lake Chickasha. The payment was for just under $50,000 to Slemp Welding Power Excavation of Gracemont.

Public hearing on new residential area postponed

A public hearing regarding a preliminary plat application for Country Manor Estates from applicant Brannan Bordwine was removed from the agenda of last night's meeting.

Onward Chickasha Proposal Ready for Review

 A lengthy community survey developed to get public input about the development of Chickasha over the next 25 years is complete. Called the Onward Chickasha project, residents and stakeholders were asked their thoughts about housing, parks, recreation, transportation and other sectors to take the city into the middle part of the 21st century. A draft of the plan is now available on the website Onward Chickasha.org  and plans may also be reviewed at the Chickasha Library and at city hall. Feedback is needed by December 4^th which will be followed by a public hearing during the Dec. 16 city council meeting. The city council will get a look at the draft in a special work session tonight.

State 4H Shooting Sports Champ Offers Hunting Safety Tips

Deer season is underway in Oklahoma. Charramaiyne Brown with the Grady County 4H Leadership Team was the winner of the state 4H shooting sports program last year. She says safety is the No. 1 concern in that program and has these recommendations for hunters regardless of the season-

She said the most common injury while hunting is falling so she says to be aware of your surroundings and watch for uneven terrain. The gun season for deer runs through Dec. 8th and antler-less deer season is Dec. 18th through 31st. Archery season runs through Jan. 15th. Hunters can harvest a maximum of six deer during all the seasons combined and no more than two of the animals can have antlers.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.75 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.97.

Natural gas is $2.98 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,639 and silver is $31.45.

Obituary

Pauline 'Pug' Martin

A graveside service for Pug Martin, 97, of Amber was held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19^th at the Amber Cemetery. She ran a Merle Norman Cosmetics franchise. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Monday, Nov. 18th

Oklahoma Wakes Up to Severe Weather

Powerful thunderstorms moved across the state early this morning bringing high winds, hail, and some tornado warnings. While there were no tornado warnings for south-central Oklahoma there were 60 mph winds and penny-sized hail with some storms. The weather delayed the start of many schools for about an hour including Chickasha, Ninnekah, and Alex schools. There were no immediate reports of damage. A tornado watch initially was in effect until 10:00 a.m. but was cancelled about 8:00 a.m. There are still threats for possible flooding and high winds until 3:00 p.m. this afternoon.

New Chix City Manager to Take Oath of Office

Jim Crosby will be sworn in to serve as Chickasha's next city manager this evening. Crosby will take his oath of office in the first order of business for the Chickasha City Council when the panel meets this evening. Crosby has served as the city's public works director for the last four years and has a half-century of municipal government experience to rely on, including serving as city manager for Yukon and Piedmont. Crosby has been working side-by-side with outgoing city manager Keith Johnson for several weeks. Johnson is stepping down at the end of next month.

Broken water line repairs to be finalized

The council will consider giving its final approval to a contract to repair that broken water line near the city's water treatment plant. The group is expected to sign off on a more than $280,000 agreement with Matthews Trenching of Oklahoma City to repair and or replace a section of water line underneath the Stillwater National Railroad.

Public hearing scheduled for new residential area

A public hearing will be held on a preliminary plat application for a new residential area of Country Manor Estates being developed by Brannan Bordwine. After the hearing the council will consider approving that application.

Police department to purchase vehicles

Also to be considered is buying several vehicles for the police department including a 2025 Ford F250 Crew Cab pick-up from Bill Knight Ford on state contract for more than $48,000 for the animal control division; the purchase of a Chevy Tahoe from the City of Mustang for $40,000; and a 2023 Dodge Durango pursuit vehicle for about $39,000 from the Kansas Highway patrol. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

Arrested Assault Suspect on Probation for Previous Crimes

A Verden man with a violent past is back in jail for allegedly assaulting a woman including threatening her with a loaded weapon. 45-year old Jose Ernesto Ramirez was arrested last week after the woman said Ramirez had been abusive to her for several days. She said he held a loaded weapon to her neck and threatened to kill her. In his probable cause affidavit Verden Police Chief Jason Cox said  Ramirez was already on probation for threatening to  kill him during a previous arrest. Ramirez remains in the Grady County Jail on a $50,000 bond.

Suspicious Vehicle Call Leads to Drug Trafficking Arrest

A Blanchard man is accused of drug trafficking. 41-year old Christopher Gilbreath was arrested by Grady County Sheriff's deputies who were called to investigate a suspicious vehicle at an oilfield site near Tabler last Thursday night. A probable cause affidavit indicates deputies found more than 250 grams of methamphetamine in Gilbreath's truck. Gilbreath is charged with one count of felony drug trafficking. He remains in the Grady County Jail on an $80,000 bond.

Wildlife Biologist to Meet with Ag Producers

Grady County agriculture producers meet tomorrow morning. Speaker will be Jason Smith who is a private lands wildlife biologist. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of every month at the Grady County OSU Extension Office at 7:00 a.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.49 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.72.

Natural gas is $2.90 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,598 and silver is $30.85.

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Saturday, Nov. 16th

State Receives Grant Connected to Broadband Expansion

Oklahoma has already received more than $1 billion in federal funds to get high-speed broadband service into rural areas of the state. Officials with the Oklahoma Broadband Office now say they are getting a huge grant to help teach individuals how to use the Internet once they get access to it. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has awarded the state an $11.2 million grant that will be used to show new users how to effectively access the world wide web and learn about on-line services. Mike Sanders is the director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office. He said the state must be committed to digital education because it is essential for residents to be equipped with the skills needed to effectively and confidently navigate the on-line world. Sanders said his office will be launching its latest broadband expansion project in western Oklahoma next week. Dobson Fiber will be working to expand Internet service to an eight-county area in and around Custer County.

State Audit Critical of City of Lindsay Operations

A detailed audit of the City of Lindsay by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd found significant mismanagement and a failure of city council members to provide oversight of expenses. A press release from the state auditor shows the city under-billed commercial customers by about $1.5 million, and there were failures to process utility rate increases and processing late fees which resulted in the loss of about $150,000 in revenue.  Byrd said the warning signs were there but no one was looking. The audit also indicated that nearly $500,000 in sales tax funds earmarked for the Lindsay Public Works Authority (LPWA) were improperly retained in the general fund account and not used for LPWA purposes as required by law. Byrd said while there were countless examples of deficient oversight, mismanagement, and poor decision making, they found that less than $2,000 of fraudulent expenses. She did say the officials are working to resolve the issues and it appears the city has turned the corner financially.

Talk Show Topic

On the KOOL Konversation Rev. Chuck Fletcher is talking about his work with the Evolution Foundation which partners with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Find a podcast of the program under the community tab on this website.

Obituary

Kevin White

Funeral service for Kevin White, 52, formerly of Chickasha was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16^th at Bible Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, an LPN, and a kitchen manager for the Department of Corrections. Arrangements were with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Friday, Nov. 15th

Second Arrest Made in Suspected Child Abuse Probe

RANCH News has more information about allegations of child abuse at a Chickasha home. The mother of the infant is now behind bars after authorities she allowed the abuse to take place. 18-year old Kayla McDaniel was taken into to custody yesterday after Chickasha police requested a warrant for her arrest this past Tuesday. The warrant was for felony enabling child abuse and misdemeanor failure to report child abuse. The father of the six-week old, Colt Stelting, was arrested last week. Police were called to OU Children's Hospital to investigate a child abuse report. Authorities allege that McDaniel had taken SnapChat videos of the abuse, including Stelting shaking the baby and throwing the child in the air where the infant hit his head on the ceiling. Stelting is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $500,000 bond and McDaniel is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Grady County Treasurer Mails Property Tax Statements

The Grady County Treasurer's office has mailed out the end-of-year property tax statements. Treasurer Robin Burton said the office sent out more than 40,000 statements which includes those sent to mortgages companies. The total dollar value of property taxes is just over $90 million which is an increase of 4.1 percent over last year. Burton said there is a change regarding property tax payments. Property owners can pay all or half the amount due on or before December 31st which is two weeks earlier than in years past. The second half is due on or before March 31st of 2025.

Bill Wallace School Teacher of the Year

RANCH News wraps up our series of the site teachers of the year for Chickasha Public Schools today. Let's hear from Gretchen Slate who is the principal of the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center-

Kelsey and the other teachers of the year - Christian McCarter at Grand Elementary, Dominique Golightly at Lincoln, Lacee Broyles at the middle school, and Jen Jantzen at the high school who are all in the running to be the District Teacher of the Year which will be announced in the spring.

OHCE Celebration of Crafts Underway

Grady County OHCE holds its annual celebration of crafts show this weekend. The event features more than 50 vendors with mostly hand-made items for sale. There will also be cakes, pies, cookies, and rolls. There will be a quilt show and a quilt turning, and photos with Santa and the Grinch will be available. It's going on in the North Exhibit building at the Grady County Fairgrounds today and tomorrow.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.80.

Natural gas is $2.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,572 and silver is $30.65.

Obituaries

'Gurney' Smith

Funeral service for Sharon 'Gurney' Smith, 67, of Chickasha was held at 10:00 a.m. this morning (Friday, Nov. 15^th) at Bible Baptist Church. She worked at Delta Faucet for more than 30 years. Arrangements were with McRay Funeral Home.

Cleo Lawson

Funeral service for Cleo Lawson, 84, of Tulsa and formerly of Chickasha will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16th at McRay Funeral Home. She worked at Hermetic Switch (now known as HSI Sensing) for nearly 20 years.

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Thursday, Nov. 14th

Alysia Adams Opts to Face Trial for Death of Child

Alysia Adams, the Caddo County woman charged with murder in connection with the death of 4-year old Athena Brownfield, has opted to go to trial instead of pleading guilty to killing the child. It was reported that Adams, who had been appointed caretaker of Athena, had worked out a plea deal with prosecutors to possibly avoid the death penalty. Now, the case will go to a trial by a jury of Adams' peers in Caddo County District Court in Anadarko with a date to be determined. Ivon Adams, a second caretaker of Athena, is also charged with murder.

Teen Dad Faces Child Abuse Charge

A Chickasha man is charged with child abuse for allegedly shaking an infant and tossing the child where the baby hit its head on the ceiling. 19-year old Colt Dean Stelting was arrested by Chickasha police last Friday. A probable cause affidavit alleges several instances of abuse of the six-week old baby including pinching the baby and bruising his face between Sept. 24th and Nov. 7th. It's alleged there was video evidence of Stelting shaking the baby, and also of him holding the child in one arm and a gun in the opposite hand, wrapping the child's finger around the trigger, and pointing the gun at the camera with Stelting saying "I want my f-ing milk". Stelting is charged with one felony count of child abuse and is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $500,000 bond.  He's to be back in court for a preliminary hearing conference next week.

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking, Assaulting Cop

Verden police arrest a man for allegedly having drugs and assaulting a police officer. 35-year old Dillon Don Jackson Lewis of Anadarko was pulled over for making an improper turn Monday night. A probable cause affidavit indicates Lewis had marijuana on him but he did not have a medical marijuana card. The officer then saw what appeared to be packages of methamphetamine in the vehicle.  A scuffle ensued and its alleged Lewis poured some of the meth into a puddle. Lewis was eventually subdued and taken to the Grady County Jail. Lewis is facing charges of assault on a police officer, drug trafficking, and destroying evidence. He remains in jail on a $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing conference is set for Dec. 11th.

Grand Avenue Teacher of the Year

RANCH News is featuring the site teachers of the year for Chickasha Public Schools this week. Today we have the Grand Avenue Elementary Principal Kathy Wenzel to tell us about their teacher-

Tomorrow, we'll have the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center teacher of the year.

Grady County Fairgrounds Hosts Top Dogs in the Country

Some of the top dogs in America will be making their way to the Grady County Fairgrounds over the next several days. The Town and Country Kennel Club of Norman and the Canadian County Kennel Club of El Reno will host their annual Sooner Circuit Cluster of Dog Shows. Hundreds of dogs will be led through show rings, with handlers looking to gain enough points for their dogs to qualify for the top dog shows in the country next year like the Westminster and Eukanuba Dog Shows. The shows begin today and runs through Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.71 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.56.

Natural gas is $2.95 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,552 and silver is $29.95.

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Wednesday, Nov. 13th

Caregiver Expected to Plead Guilty to Child's Death

The next chapter regarding the death of a four-year old Cyril girl is expected to come to a close today. The body of Athena Brownfield - reported missing a week after Christmas nearly two years ago - was found buried in a make-shift grave near Agawam in January of 2023. Alycia and Ivon Adams, who were caretakers of Athena, are both facing murder charges in connection with her death. KWTV News 9 reports that Alycia Adams will plead guilty to murder in Caddo County District Court today. It's reported that she will avoid the death penalty by doing so. Ivon Adams has a court date in January.

Two Suspects Arrested for Grow-Facility Robbery

Two suspects are behind bars in connection with that hold up of a marijuana grow facility near Cement last week. Court documents indicate the men were already under investigation for other crimes and authorities had managed to obtain their cell phone numbers. Officials were able to determine that the two men were at the Cement location at the time of the robbery. 25-year old Treshaun Demond Traylor and 24-year old Tauriawn Latrelle Knight, both of Oklahoma City, were arrested in Oklahoma City less than 24 hours after the robbery.  It's alleged the suspects had guns when they broke into the grow, assaulted several employees, and took more than $5,000 in cash and several bundles of processed marijuana. Both Traylor and Knight have been charged with multiple counts of robbery by force or fear, drug trafficking, and malicious injury to property. Both men are being held in the Grady County Jail on $300,000 bond each.

Tank Battery Blast Damage Held to a Minimum

A tank battery explosion rocked a rural area between Ninnekah and Alex early Tuesday morning. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said a 9-1-1 call came in just after midnight. The blast occurred near State Highway 19 and CS2900. Ninnekah and Chickasha fire departments were dispatched with Ninnekah sending three trucks and five firefighters. No one was at the site when the explosion occurred. Damage was confined to the location and crews spent about an hour and a half at the site. Gregory said the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Norge Highway Paving Project to Impact Traffic

Motorists who use the Norge Highway between Grand Avenue and Country Club Road will be slowed by some road improvements being made today. The City of Chickasha and employees with the District 3 Grady County Commissioners office will be applying a two-inch asphalt overlay to the roadway. Traffic will be down to one lane during the project. Officials hope to complete the work this afternoon.

Non-Profit Delivers More Amazon Warehouse Items to CPS

Another two semi-trailer loads of returned and discontinued items from Amazon have been delivered to Chickasha Public Schools this morning. School employees and volunteers arrived before 6:00 a.m. to unload the semis at the Bill Wallace School gymnasium. This is the second of five such deliveries for the district from the non-profit group - Life's Hope of Duncan. Items include household goods, home decor, clothing, car parts, and more. All the items are free and today, students from Grand Avenue School will get to select two items - one for themselves and one for someone else. Life's Hope works with other non-profits across the country and has helped to distribute more than $13 million in items throughout the United States this year.

Lincoln School Intermediate Counselor Honored

Time recognize another site teacher of the year for Chickasha Public Schools. Let's hear from Angie Morgan, the principal at Lincoln School Intermediate Center-

Tomorrow we'll feature the Grand Elementary teacher of the year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.02.

Natural gas is $2.86 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,615 and silver is $30.95.

Obituaries

Kay Hart

 Funeral service for Kay Hart, 81, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She and her late husband Anthony owned and operated Hart Trailers.

Vanda White

Funeral service for Vanda White, 68, of Ninnekah will be held at  2:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15th at McRay Funeral Home. She was a homemaker.

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Tuesday, Nov. 12th

Grady County Veterans Saluted for their Service

A program to honor and recognize the service of military veterans was held at the Grady County Veterans Memorial at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park as part of Veterans Day ceremonies yesterday. The occasion marked the 29th anniversary of the memorial. Guest speaker was Retired Army Master Sergeant Bill Flores who spent 22 years serving our country including several tours to the Middle East. Flores said many have seen the horrors of war, and older veterans need to reach out younger vets to help them deal with mental health issues associated with their military service-

Prior to the program a number of students from Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center spent time at the memorial and members of the Grady County Rock Island 4H Club gave certificates of appreciation  to veterans in attendance.

Medicare Changes Announced

It's the time of year when Medicare recipients can enroll in new programs. Social Security recipients will be a getting slight increase of 2.5 percent for 2025 however that will be offset by an increase for the cost of Medicare Part B for out-patient services. Ray Walker with the Oklahoma Insurance Department's Medicare Assistance Program said a change in the prescription drug coverage will benefit those who are on a lot of medications-

Open enrollment runs through Dec. 7th. Walker suggests talking with a reputable local insurance company to offer assistance in signing up for Medicare for the first time or to discuss options about changing coverage plans.

Chix Middle School Teacher Honored

Ranch News is featuring the site teachers of the year for Chickasha Public Schools this week. Today let's hear from Middle School Principal Tori Clark-

Tomorrow, we'll have the Lincoln School Intermediate teacher of the year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.53 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.29.

Natural gas is $2.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,601 and silver is $30.42.

Obituary

John Johnson

Funeral service for Dr. John Johnson of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He taught computer science at USAO and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston where he worked with the space shuttle program.

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Monday, Nov. 11th

Chix Schools Complete Renovation of Opportunity Workshop

Crews have been working the last few weeks to remodel the former Chickasha Opportunity Workshop into usable space for Chickasha schools. Tonight the school board will consider naming the building at Iowa Avenue and John Cowan Drive as the 'Chickasha Public Schools Educational Services Center'. Programs to be located in the building are the district's instructional technology department, the Chickasha Public School Foundation, the high school and middle school pom programs, the Pierson Testing Center, some additional classroom space, and a conference room.

Bill Wallace employees to be recognized

The Chickasha Board of Education will recognize a couple of employees at the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center as the Chicken Express Employees of the Month during its regularly scheduled meeting for November tonight. They are Arizona Ridgeway who is the Certified Employee of the Month and Kayla Smith who is the Support Employee of the Month. Smith will also be recognized as the Support Employee of the Quarter.

CHS student nearly aces national test

Chickasha high school student Austin Clift will be recognized for her near perfect score on the PSAT. Clift score 1500 out of possible 1520 points which is in the top 1 percent of all test takers. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

Special meeting scheduled to consider teacher termination

The school board has a special meeting tomorrow to hold a hearing to consider a recommendation to fire certified teacher Dylan Nagode. Superintendent Rick Croslin is a making the recommendation to terminate Nagode who is listed as a music teacher on the school district's website. No information was provided about the reason for the recommendation. After the hearing the school board will go behind closed doors to consider the recommendation. That meeting is set for 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the school administration building.

Salvation Army to Begin Kettle Drive

The Salvation Army which serves Grady and Caddo counties is about to begin its annual Red Kettle Bell Ringing Campaign. The goal is to raise $45,000 all of which will be used to help needy families in the region. Lt. Bobby McFarland said they are always looking for volunteers to ring the bell and there is an easy way to sign up-

The bell-ringing campaign starts tomorrow and will run through Christmas Eve. McFarland also says that Angel Trees will be out soon with gift lists provided from area children. Last year there were more than 300 'angels' in the two-county area.

Chix Schools Site Teachers Featured this Week

This week RANCH news will feature the Site Teachers of the Year for Chickasha Public Schools. Honorees were selected by teachers at each school and each are candidates to be the Chickasha Public Schools Teacher of the Year that will be selected in the spring. We'll start at the high school today where Principal Debbie Davis talks about their selection-

We'll highlight the middle school teacher of the year tomorrow

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.38 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.87.

Natural gas is $2.67 per million BTUs.

Gold is$2,667 and silver is $31.40.

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Saturday, Nov. 9th

Suspects Face Federal Charges Related 

to 2023 Marijuana Grow Facility Robberies

A multi-county grand jury has charged four men for their alleged involvement in robberies at grow facilities in Alex and Marlow last year. 25-year old Geane Johnson, Jr; 21 year old Anthony Jermaine Rainger; 20-year old Amiel Elijah Rainger; and 20-year old Herbert Lee Morris, Jr. all face a number of felonies. The Lawton Constitution reports they are accused of stealing cash and bundles of packaged marijuana from Fuda2020 LLC in Alex and Butter Cookies LLC in Marlow in June of last year. They are believed to be associated with a group known as the Murder One Blood street gang. They face counts of robbery; conspiracy to commit robbery; assault while in disguise; committing a gang-related offense; and engaging in patterns of criminal offenses. Two of them also face weapons charges. It's believed they may also be connected to other robberies that are under investigation.

ODOT Seeks Comment on 25-year Plan

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is asking for your thoughts on its latest long-range transportation plan. ODOT is looking at projects over the next 25 years which is different from the agency's eight-year construction work plan. The website OK Energy Today reports the plan is required by the federal government to establish a comprehensive vision for the future and guiding the development of a network that insures safe, efficient, and reliable transportation options. They include traveling by car, public transit, trains, as well las by bicycle and on foot. It's also to include highways, passenger and freight railroads, airport access and waterways. You can review the plan on the website www.longrangeplan.org and leave comments through Dec. 20th. Additional public input will be needed when the initial proposal is released next summer.

Alpaca Producers Showing at the Grady County Fairgrounds

Alpaca producers from across the country are in Chickasha this weekend. They are taking part in the annual Alpaca Blast-off hosted by Alpacas of Oklahoma. Nearly 60 farms from 21 states are showing about 350 animals this weekend at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Judging is similar to a regular livestock show with the animals rated on their fleece and their body condition. The animals are also led through an obstacle course. Debbie Ashley with Alpacas of Oklahoma says the show is open to the public at no charge, and you can get up close and personal with the animals-

Alpacas are smaller and more docile than llamas. They are raised for breeding purposes and their fleece which is finer and warmer than wool. The fleece is spun into yarn to make sweaters, socks, scarves, and gloves, and is also made into the size of a baseball which you can toss in your dryer to remove static electricity from your clothes. The show begins at 9:00 a.m. both today and tomorrow.  

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Tammy Watts and E Vanbuskirk with Grady County OHCE are on the KOOL Konversation to discuss their organization and its upcoming Celebration of Crafts Show.  A podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Nov. 8th

City of Chickasha Begins 'Food for Fines' Program

The City of Chickasha has begun its Food for Fines program. Individuals who owe fines for traffic tickets or code violations can have their fines reduced by donating non-perishable food items to the municipal court located at the police department. Each item of non-perishable food donated will reduce fines by $10 with a maximum of $100 taken off what is owed. Officials say individuals who have outstanding warrants can participate without fear of being arrested and will be set up on a plan to pay the remaining balance. Items that will be accepted include canned vegetables and fruit; canned meats like chicken and tuna; bags or boxes of beans and rice; mac and cheese; crackers; and bags and boxes of cereal. Also accepted will be four-packs of toilet paper. All items will be donated to the Emergency Food Pantry. The Food for Fines program runs through Nov. 22nd.

The Imaginaries Release Song for Veterans

The Imaginaries, the musical duo of Shane Henry and Maggie McClure, debut their latest song today. It's a heartfelt tribute to military veterans called Carry Me, Carry On (Veteran's Song)-

The song is in collaboration with a group called Guitars for Vets, a group which raises awareness and funds to help at-risk veterans impacted by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-related trauma. The music video was produced by Reagan Elkins and was shot at the Production House in downtown Chickasha.

Veterans Day Events Scheduled

As we head into the weekend before Veterans Day, a unique event will be held in Lawton. It's a 24-hour Veterans Day Walk.  It's called Steps Under the Stars and Stripes which will get underway this afternoon at the Lawton-Ft. Sill Visitors Center. Individuals and groups are welcome to join the walk at any time but won't have to walk the entire 24 hours. Tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Tommy Franks Mobile Museum will be there and Ft. Sill will have some static displays. A number of guest speakers are scheduled. The visitors center is at 501 Southeast Flower Mound Road.

Grady County program is Monday

The Oklahoma Veterans Recognition Committee will have its annual Veterans Day program on Monday, Nov. 11^th which is Veterans Day. The program will be held at the Grady County Veterans Memorial at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park starting at 11:00 a.m. In case of bad weather the program will be moved to the Chickasha Elks Lodge at 1818 W. Country Club Road. The Elks Lodge will serve all veterans and their guests a meal after the program.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.63.

Natural gas is $2.72 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,696 and silver is $31.56.

Obituary

Earl 'Eddie' Cowan

Funeral service for Eddie Cowan, 60, of Verden will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9th at McRay Funeral Home. He worked in a number of hospitals, established the Cottonwood Senior Center in Verden, and cared for more than 180 foster children.

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Thursday, Nov. 7th

Grow Facility Held Up at Gun Point

Grady County deputies are looking for a number of suspects believed to have been involved in the armed robbery of a marijuana grow facility last night. Authorities were called out to the Cement area near CS 2790 and CR1450 about 8:30 p.m. Media reports indicate as many as seven suspects stormed into the facility with weapons. There were no reports of injuries. The suspects and 20 or more employees are believed to have fled the area. Officials have called in the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to assist with the investigation. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grady County Sheriff's Office by calling 405-224-0984.

WFEC to Build New Generators

In Anadarko, Western Farmers Electric Co-op recently broke ground to build two new generators. When completed the co-op will be able to generate up to 650 megawatts of electricity. Mark Faulkinberry with Western Farmers says the demand for electricity has been on the rise-

He said the new generators will use jet-engine technology for faster start-ups.

Nat'l Weather Service Part of Middle School Science Fair

Chickasha Middle School students will get some great STEM training tomorrow. Officials from the National Weather Service as well as local and state emergency management groups will have a science fair for 7th and 8^th graders. Chickasha Emergency Management Director Edward Perez and Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson will be part of the program. Perez says there will be several stations the students can visit-

Perez says a new phrase has been coined to help individuals protect themselves should a tornado be headed their way. It's 'get in, get down, and get covered'.

USAO Readies for Upcoming Davis-Waldorf Programs

USAO is preparing for its second Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series (DWPAS) program later this month. The enchanting world of Japanese folk tales will come to life with performer Kuniko Yamamoto. The performance will be Thursday Nov. 21st at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Hall Little Theatre. Tickets are now on sale at the USAO business office.  DWPAS officials say the university has received a grant which will help fund the third program in the series in February. The $5,000 grant comes from the Mid-America Arts Alliances Regional Touring program. The February 13th show will feature the Houston-based FLY Dance Company, also known as The Gentlemen of Hip Hop.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.09 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.46.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.21.

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Wednesday, Nov. 6th

Election Results

Former President Donald Trump will return to Washington, D.C. after defeating Kamala Harris in yesterday's presidential election. Trump picked up the minimum 270 electoral votes needed to win the election and that total increased to 277 early this morning. Trump easily won in Oklahoma with more than 66 percent of the vote, receiving more than 1 million of the 1.5 million votes cast. Grady County voters backed Trump with 80 percent of the vote giving him 20,000 of the 25,000 votes cast.

Grady County fire tax gets big win

Grady County voters easily passed a 10-year extension of a sales tax for the nearly 20 fire districts in the county. It received 70 percent of the vote - 17,473 to 7,481. The 1/8th of a penny sales tax brings in about $1 million a year which is distributed evenly to the nearly 20 volunteer and municipal departments to help them buy and maintain vehicles and equipment, and to advance fire protection and prevention services.

New Mayor elected in Anadarko

In Anadarko, John McCasland won the mayor's post over two candidates including current Mayor Kelley McGlothlin. McClasland won despite not getting more than 50 percent of the vote. He received 716 votes which 48 percent; McGlothlin received 603 votes which was 40 percent; and Patrick Michael Hayes received 175 votes or about 12 percent. McCasland will serve out the remaining two years of McGlothlin's term.

Chix Fire Department to get New Ambulance

The Chickasha Fire Department will be getting a new ambulance. The city council this week approved the purchase of a 2024 Ram 550 ambulance through Emergency Vehicle Sales and Services of Oklahoma for more than $385,000. The funds will be reimbursed by the Grady County EMS District.

Shannon Springs Park pool, splash pad renovations approved

The council also approved a bid of more than $460,000 to rehabilitate the municipal swimming pool at Shannon Springs Park. The bid was awarded to Sunbelt Pools. Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Winzenried said it is expected to extend the life of the pool by 10 to 15 years. The council also approved a bid to rehabilitate the splash pad at Shannon Springs Park. The project was awarded to RJR Enterprises at a cost of just under $54,000.

Chix Schools, Community to Benefit from Duncan Non-Profit

A non-profit group out of Duncan is teaming up with several other non-profits across the country to distribute millions of dollars in food and products to school children and communities. Life's Hope is a humanitarian relief organization which has been around for nearly 20 years. The group brought two semi-trailers full of returned and discontinued items from an Amazon distribution center in Illinois to Chickasha's Bill Wallace School today. School employees and community volunteers helped to unload several pallets of items that included household items, bedding, clothing, ceiling fans, air fryers, and much more. The items are all given away starting with students who are allowed to pick one item for themselves and one for someone else. The community is then invited to pick up items at no charge (but they are not to re-sell them), with churches, the Salvation Army and other non-profits also invited to participate. This will take place at all the other school sites over the next few weeks.  For information about Life's Hope, check out its Facebook page.

Longtime Farm Service Agency Director Dies

Obituaries today include Darrell Cheshier who was the longtime director of the Grady County Farm Service Agency. Cheshier was 68 when he passed away after a brief illness  last week. He was very active with local and state square dancing clubs and had been president of the Swingin' Chicks Square Dance Club for many years. He was recently inducted into the state Square Dancing Hall of Fame. Funeral service was held in Maysville yesterday and he was laid to rest in the Schwartz Cemetery in Oklahoma City. He is survived by his wife Tawana, son Andrew, and daughter Kyla Roach her husband John and their families.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.07 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.56.

Natural gas is $2.67 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,729 and silver is $32.26.

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Tuesday, Nov. 5th

Chix Council Formally Hires New City Manager

Jim Crosby, who has served as the city of Chickasha's public works director the last four years, was officially hired to be the next city manager at city hall. After a nearly 30-minute executive session last night, the panel voted 8-0 to approve an employment contract with Crosby. Councilman Kelly Boyd was absent from last night's meeting. Crosby has worked in municipal government for more than 50 years and previously was city manager at Yukon and Piedmont. Crosby will start next Monday, Nov. 11th and will work with current city manager Keith Johnson over the next couple of months. Johnson recently announced his resignation and agreed to remain on the job through Dec. 31st. Mayor Zach Grayson said Crosby's base salary will be $145,000 per year plus benefits including a car allowance and some moving expenses.

FOP contract approved

Also in the closed door session, the council unanimously approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Local 129 for fiscal years 2024-26. Details of the contract were not released.

Explanation offered for non-working storm sirens during tornado warning

City of Chickasha officials say a computer glitch and the time change are to blame when the city's storm sirens failed when a tornado warning was issued Sunday afternoon. Emergency Management Director Edward Perez said a new computer has been ordered and it is expected to arrive tomorrow.

Two waterline construction projects OK'd

The council also approved spending nearly 3/4 of a million dollars for a couple of waterline projects. One is for the emergency repairs on a broken waterline underneath the Stillwater National Railroad next to the water treatment plant. The council approved a nearly $283,000 bid from Matthews Trenching Company of Oklahoma City for that project. The panel approved a more than $480,000 bid from Bear Creek Construction of Clinton for a water main construction project near Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad.

Obituaries

Mable Kinsey

Funeral service for Mable Kinsey, 96, of Moore and formerly of the Anadarko and Gracemont area will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She was a nurse.

LeAnn Akins

A come-and-go celebration of life for LeAnn Akins, 77, of Chickasha will be held from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Monday, Nov. 4^th

Several Tornado Warnings Issued in the Area

Strong thunderstorms have been moving through the Grady, Caddo and Canadian County areas over the last two days with at least three tornado warnings issued. Two of them were Sunday afternoon when storms developed near the communities of Cement and Cogar. A tornado warning for Chickasha was issued just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday when the National Weather Service (NWS) said radar-indicated rotation was near 4^th and Country Club Road. KWTV Channel 9 storm chasers Val and Amy Castor showed the rotating mesocyclone as it moved over the city. That stormed moved northeast to the Blanchard area. At nearly the same time the NWS issued a tornado warning for a storm in the Cogar area. That storm moved over Union City and then on to Yukon. Just after 6:00 a.m. this morning the NWS issued a tornado warning for a storm in the Tuttle area moving northeast into Oklahoma City. No tornados touched down in any of those storms and there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Chix Storm Sirens Did Not Work Sunday

Many Chickasha residents are questioning why the city's storm sirens did not go off during Sunday's tornado warning. City officials are also wondering why since the sirens were just tested within the last couple of weeks. A statement issued by the city said the sirens were activated three minutes before the tornado warning was issued but they did not work. The statement said officials are working with the company that serviced the sirens to find out why they didn't sound off. The statement says it's important that individuals have several ways to receive weather updates including having phone alerts, downloading weather apps, watching televisions stations, and having a NOAA weather radio.

Chix Council May Hire Next City Manager Tonight

A proposal to hire Jim Crosby as Chickasha's next city manager could be made official tonight. Crosby, who has been the city's Public Works Director for the last four years, was recommended for the post during a special city council meeting last week. The council gave Mayor Zach Grayson the authority to negotiate a contract. The council will go behind closed doors tonight to consider an employment agreement with Crosby. If approved, he'll assume the post currently held by Keith Johnson after the first of the year. Johnson previously announced he'll be leaving Dec. 31^st.

Panel to discuss contract talks with police union

Also in the closed-door session the council will discuss the status of negotiations regarding a collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police Local No. 129 for 2024-26 fiscal years.

Contracts for two water line projects to be considered

The panel will also consider hiring a firm to make emergency repairs to a broken water line under the Stillwater National Railroad near the water treatment plant. A bid from Matthews Trenching Company for more than $370,000 is being recommended for approval. Also to be discussed is a waterline construction project in the area of Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad to Bear Creek Construction of Clinton for nearly $500,000. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at City Hall.

Operation Greenlight Ceremony Held

A ceremony to honor veterans was held at the Grady County Courthouse this morning. It's part of a national campaign called Operation Greenlight, a week-long campaign to recognize veterans and the challenges they face. Featured speakers included Sheriff Gary Boggess, a U.S. Army veteran; retired teacher and school administrator John Smith who served in the U.S. Navy; and restaurant owner and businessman Josh Woods who served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.30 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.94.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,747 and silver is $32.88.

Obituary

Roy Sutton

Funeral service for Roy Sutton, 72, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked for Chickasha Manufacturing, the City of Chickasha, Maremont, Delta Faucet, and had a computer business with his brother.

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Saturday, Nov. 2nd

Drought and Flooding Possible this Weekend

Many parts of Oklahoma have been extremely dry over the last few months. Much of the state is in moderate drought conditions while a majority of southern Oklahoma is in extreme drought. That's expected to change this weekend as thunderstorms with heavy rains are expected to cross the state late this afternoon, tonight, and through Monday.  The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of the state through 6:00 p.m. Monday. Central Oklahoma could see four to seven inches of rain or more. The I-44 corridor between Lawton and Tulsa is in the bulls-eye for the flood watch. Excessive run-off may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations and flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas. For motorists who may be caught on the road in heavy rains and high water officials say remember the adage 'Turn Around, Don't Drown'.

State Drought Committee Approves Relief Program

Agriculture producers in the Sooner State will be able to get some financial help due to the extremely dry conditions they've faced over the past few months. The state's Emergency Drought Committee will provide immediate and practical relief to those who have been affected according to one state official. Funds can be used to help secure water resources and address infrastructure needs. To qualify producers must be in counties where at least 25 percent of the land area is in D1 drought conditions or worse. That includes all of Grady, Caddo, Comanche, Stephens, and Garvin counties and much of McClain County. Much of southern Oklahoma south of I-40 is in D3 or extreme drought conditions. Applications will be available at local conservation districts and on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission website starting Nov. 12^th with the application period running through Jan. 31st. Eligible producers may apply for funds to help with pipeline installation, water wells, pond clean-out, heavy-use protection areas, pumping plants, watering facilities, and pasture taps.

'Standard' Time Returns; Fall 'Back'

Most Oklahomans are going to get an extra hour of sleep tonight as much of the country will return to Standard Time. The official time change will be at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. That means an extra hour of work for those on the night shift. The change means that sunrise and sunsets will be a little earlier.

Talk Show Topic

Ray Walker with the Medicare Assistance Program from the Oklahoma Insurance Department is on the KOOL Konversation to discuss options for senior citizens during the Medicare enrollment period underway. A podcasts of the program can be found on this website under the Community Tab.

Obituaries

Kathryn Davies

Funeral service for Kathryn Davies, 81, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4th at Grand Assembly of God Church.  She worked with an electronics company in San Diego, California.  Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Nellie Pugh

No service will be held for Nellie Pugh, 91, of Chickasha. She worked as a nurse and a cook before staying home to be a homemaker. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Friday, Nov. 1st

Chix Mayor Presents State-of-the-City Address

Chickasha is on the cusp of some good things to come. Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson discussed some reasons he thinks so in his first State-of-the-City address yesterday in a program organized by the Chamber of Commerce at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Grayson began his tenure as mayor in June and has a positive outlook-

Grayson said a voter-approved sales tax to build a new water treatment plant will get the city on the right track to improve water quality. Engineers are currently in the design phase for the $30 million facility. Plans are to go out for bids for construction in the spring with construction to start late next year. Estimated construction time is about 18 months with a completion perhaps in early 2027. Grayson also said the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts recently approved by the council will help with future development and that upgrades at the airport will be beneficial. He said there will curves in the road ahead-

Grady County to Hold 'Operation Greenlight' for Veterans

Grady County officials will hold a ceremony on Monday to honor military veterans. County commissioners have issued a proclamation to Recognize Operation Greenlight, joining the National Association of Counties to encourage individuals and businesses to shine green lights. It's not only to show support for veterans but also raise awareness of the unique challenges they face. Sheriff Gary Boggess says the courthouse and his office will participate-

Boggess, who is himself a military veteran, will be one of several speakers during a ceremony set for 9:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4^th in courtroom No. 1 in the county courthouse. It is open to the public. The weekly county commissioner's meeting will be held after the ceremony, at 10:30 a.m.

USAO Sets STEM Program for Pre-Teen Girls

Encouraging girls to consider careers in the STEM field is the goal of a program at USAO tomorrow. It's the 15th annual Women in Technology Workshop. It's for fifth and sixth grade girls and is focused on building their confidence and inspiring their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. Cost is just $5 per student and it will get underway at 8:15 tomorrow morning on the USAO campus in Austin Hall. Contact Dr. Jeanette Loutch at USAO for information.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.14 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.63.

Natural gas is $2.72 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,761 and silver is $32.96.

Obituaries

Bob Conner

Funeral service for Bob Conner, 83, of the Tuttle area will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2nd at the Newcastle First Baptist Church. He spent many years as the lead diesel mechanic for UPS. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Oct. 31st

Use of Sales Tax for Volunteer Fire Departments Criticized

A county-wide sales tax which benefits Grady County fire departments is up for renewal in next Tuesday's election. The 1/8^th-of-a-penny sales tax has been in effect for 10 years and, if approved, would be extended for another 10 years. There are some rumblings about the use of the tax. Rodney Young, who is a board member for the Friend Volunteer Fire Department has some concerns. He says there are no checks and balances and no transparency. He gives one example–

Young also says that equipment has been purchased that is not on any station inventory list. He says he supports the work of the volunteer firefighters but wants better oversight of the spending. Kim Duke with the Grady County Fire Department says all purchase requests of more than $250 goes through a series of steps before they are approved-

This year the sales tax will bring in a little over $1.2 million which is distributed evenly to 20 fire districts in the county. That includes all the volunteer departments as well as municipal departments including the Chickasha Fire Department.

Long Lines Form for First Day of Early Voting

Voter turnout was huge yesterday for the first day of in-person, absentee voting ahead of next Tuesday's general election. At the Grady County Election Board about 2,200 people cast ballots with many waiting in line for at least an hour. Early voting will be available again today and tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In-person, absentee voting can only be done at the county election board where individuals are registered to vote. (Large cities have multiple sites available). Grady County Election Board Secretary Katrina Hughes says about 1,700 absentee ballots were mailed out and about 1,200 have been returned. Individuals can hand-deliver those ballots to the election board but must do so by the close of business Monday.

USAO Homecoming to Feature 'Golden Anniversary'

It's Homecoming weekend at USAO. Whitney Palesano with the alumni association says it marks a milestone for former students-

The name change from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma took place in 1974. The weekend kicks-off with a concert at Brandi's Bar and Grill tomorrow night with Dollar 98; Saturday events include a Hall of Fame brunch where faculty member Dr. Linda McElroy will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame and softball coach Jadyn Wallis will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. A tailgate party Saturday afternoon was scheduled for outdoors but has been moved indoors to the USAO ballroom due to the forecast for rain.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.92 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.66.

Natural gas is $2.79 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,785 and silver is $33.64.

Obituary

William 'Butch' Baker

A memorial service for 'Butch' Baker, 78, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a truck driver for Fairmont Dairy.

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Wednesday, Oct. 30th

More Water Issues for Chickasha

The City of Chickasha has had more than its fair share of problems with its water distribution system recently. Officials are already dealing with that water line break near the water treatment plant under some railroad tracks which has a number of homes dealing with low water pressure. Officials have declared an emergency to get repairs started as soon as possible. Last night, there was a power failure at the plant leaving many more homes with little or no water. The city posted on its Facebook page that officials were working to locate parts to make repairs and that officials have hooked up a pump to help restore water pressure.

Simultaneous Fires Break Out Tuesday

Grady County volunteer fire crews were stretched to the max yesterday battling multiple fires at the same time. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said a barn caught fire near Ninnekah around U.S. Highway 81 and SH 277; two fires erupted between Alex and Bradley – one was a combine on fire the other a grass fire – and there was also a grass fire in the Bridge Creek area. Fire crews from about a dozen departments responded with many spending several hours at their locations, some not leaving until well after midnight. Gregory said the causes of all those fires are still under investigation.

Voters Can Cast Ballots Early Before Tuesday's Election

Early voting gets underway today ahead of next Tuesday's general election. In-person, absentee ballots may be cast at county election boards today, tomorrow, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chix Airport Poised to Part of Growing Aerospace Industry

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held yesterday for new hangars recently built at the Chickasha Municipal Airport. City officials, the chamber of commerce, and State Representatives Dick Lowe and Brad Boles were on hand. Also attending was Grayson Ardies, the Executive Director of the State Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics-

City officials are considering more airport improvements including the construction of a new terminal and another new hangar.

American Indian Expo Begins

Anadarko will be the place to be this week for the annual American Indian Exposition. A big parade opens the expo at 10 o'clock this morning and activities at the Caddo County Fairgrounds today through Saturday. There's a carnival, Native American arts and crafts, and the National Fancy Dance Championship. The Indian of the Year is Donna Jean Tsatoke, a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe. The Celebrity Indian of the Year is Christian Wassana, a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe and a motivational speaker and actor who started a movement called 'I Can, I Will' to inspire people to pursue their dreams. There are special events each evening at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. See the American Indian Expo Facebook page for information

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.76.

Natural gas is $2.86 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,798 and silver is $34.46.

Obituaries

Paul Gayle

Funeral service for Paul Gayle, 50, will held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1st at Bible Baptist Church. He worked for Cimarron Trailers. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Larry Pace

A graveside service for Larry Pace, 71, of Cement will be held at 1:00 p.m., Nov. 1st at Celestial Gardens Cemetery in Cyril. He worked at HSI Sensing and Harrison Gypsum. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in his name.

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Tuesday, Oct. 29th

Chix City Council Names New City Manager

City of Chickasha Public Works Director Jim Crosby has been tabbed as Chickasha's next city manager. Following a lengthy executive session during a special council meeting last night, Councilwoman Georgianne Hebblethwaite took the first step to make the hire-

The council voted 8-0 to approve with Councilwoman Erica Alexander absent from last night's meeting. Crosby has been the city's public works director for about four years. He previously served as city manager for 22 years for the City of Yukon and also spent time in Piedmont at that post. He has worked in municipal government for more than 55 years. Crosby turned 84-years old last month. If a contract can be approved Crosby would take over for current city manager Keith Johnson who is stepping down Dec. 31st.

Emergency Declared to Repair Broken Water Line

The city council declared an emergency because of the waterline break near the water treatment plant north of town. The break is underneath the Stillwater Central Railroad tracks and is causing low water pressure for homes and businesses mainly in the northeast part of the city. Public Works Director Jim Crosby says repairing or replacing the line will be a lengthy process-

Crosby said two unidentified businesses and one home have no water. They are making arrangements to get water to those locations. Crews are turning off water valves to that portion of the city overnight to allow water towers to refill.

Open House to be held at Chix Airport

Chickasha city officials will be holding an open house at the city's airport this morning. The city will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airport's new hangars and a tour of the new facilities. That will be held at 10 o'clock this morning.

Hazardous Spill Workshop Scheduled

How to prevent hazardous material spills from getting into the water supply is the subject of an upcoming workshop. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Environmental Quality will host the free workshop. It's to help drinking water suppliers, industry owners like above-ground storage tank and pipeline owners; local emergency responders, and state and federal agencies to better prepare for a spill into a river or lake that supplies drinking water. The program will included using a real-world, location-specific spill scenario that participants will use to simulate a response. The workshop will be held Tuesday, December 10th at the state DEQ headquarters in OKC. To register, reach out to the DEQ or your local emergency management coordinator.

Chick Chamber, Staff Members Honored at State Meeting

Two staff members for the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce were recognized for their work at last week's state chamber of commerce executive's conference held at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Marketing Director Cassie Pool was named outstanding staff member of the year, and new membership director Maddy Mosley was recognized for graduating from the Chamber Management Institute. The chamber office received a Communication Excellence Award for digital media, specifically for the ChickTok 'Tip-of-the-Week' series. More than 90 chamber executives across the state attended the conference.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.04 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.16.

Natural gas is $2.24 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,760 and silver is $34.23.

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Monday, Oct. 28th

Fire Risk Elevated Today, Tomorrow

It's another day of warmer-than-normal temperatures and high winds which means the threat for wildfires is high. There could be record-high temperatures again today with temps expected to be around 90 degrees along with south-southwest winds gusting to more than 35mph. Officials say the fire risk will be elevated for much of central Oklahoma and near-critical in much of western Oklahoma. The National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning starting at 10 o'clock this morning and running until 8 o'clock tonight and a wind advisory will be in effect for tomorrow. The Grady County Fire Department recommends obeying burn bans, avoid activities with open flames or sparks, avoid using power equipment that can create sparks, keep vehicles off dry grass, and properly discard cigarettes. They also say to call 9-1-1 to report smoke or fires. Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Caddo, and Comanche counties.

Update on Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Fire

Officials now say more than 10,000 acres have burned in the Rush Fire that began around the Medicine Park area in Comanche County last week and spread to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. KSWO-TV cites a statement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying the fire is still active in the refuge with backing fires being used to prevent the fire from spreading into nearby communities. Officials are now requesting that national resources be brought in. A number of Grady County firefighters were summoned to help. A task force included units from Amber, Acme, Bailey, Bridge Creek, Cox City, Farwell, Friend, Harold, Naples, Ninnekah, Pioneer, Pocasset, Rush Springs, and Tuttle departments.

Parts of Chickasha Still Impacted by Water Line Break

Many Chickasha residents continue feeling the effects of a broken waterline which occurred in the north part of the city late last week. The break is in the area of North 4th Street on a line that runs under the railroad tracks. Many residents have experienced no or low water pressure since last Thursday. City Manager Keith Johnson said crews may have to remove a section of the railroad tracks to make repairs. Officials have to get approval from the railroad. Crews have to repair or replace a section of an 18-inch in diameter water line. Officials are turning off water valves overnight to allow water towers to re-fill. Crews may not be able to begin repairs until later this week.

Chix Public School Foundation to Award Grants This Week

Thousands of dollars in new equipment and learning materials will soon be in Chickasha school classrooms. The Chickasha Public School Foundation will be awarding teacher grants this week. Teachers apply for the grants within the first month of school, and the grant requests are reviewed by a committee of individuals who serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees. The trustees approved 30 of 38 requests totaling more than $44,000. Mallory Karnes with the Foundation tells where the grants will be distributed-

Teachers won't know they received their grants until Foundation officials arrive at their classrooms on Friday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.41 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.59.

Natural gas is $2.44 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,741 and silver is $33.55.

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Saturday, Oct. 26th

Broken Water Line to Impact Parts of Chickasha for Days

City of Chickasha officials say a number of homes and even some businesses will have low water pressure for a week or longer. Officials discovered a broken 18-inch water line that runs underneath railroad tracks in the north part of town yesterday. Residents started noticing water pressure issues late Thursday afternoon. Officials say they will have to work with the railroad and get emergency repairs approved by the city council before they can start the work. Water valves in the area will be shut off during the overnight hours to allow water towers to re-fill. Water will be turned off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The area affected is north of Choctaw Avenue. Officials did not say how many water customers are affected. Check the City of Chickasha's Facebook page for updates.

Hundreds of Acres Scorched in Medicine Park Area Fire

Fire officials are estimating nearly 2,400 acres burned in the fire that broke out north of Lawton in the Medicine Park area Thursday afternoon including about 1,000 acres in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The fire burned close to the historic Holy City of the Wichitas which was included in the evacuation order issued Thursday. Officials have named it the Rush Fire as it broke out near Rush Lake.  Nearly 200 firefighters from 30 local, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies responded. Crews worked to bulldoze fire lines, deliver water drops, perform prescribed back-burning, as well as direct fire suppression. Evacuation centers were established at the Comanche Nation Tribal Complex and Arena Cowboy Church. Evacuees were allowed to return to their homes yesterday.  Portions of the wildlife refuge remain closed including the Holy City, Mount Scott, and Lake Elmer Thomas.

Talk Show Topic

Matt Stockman, Tourism and Festival of Light director with the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is this week's guest on the KOOL Konversation to give a preview of the upcoming Festival which opens in less than four weeks. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Oct. 25th

Emotions High at Ninnekah School Board/Town Hall Meeting

The Ninnekah school board continues being criticized by patrons who are angry about how the board decided to pay for the $7.5 million settlement of a lawsuit filed against the district. The lawsuit was filed after 14 former student-athletes said they were sexually assaulted by former girls basketball coach Ron Akins who is serving a 25-year prison term after pleading guilty to 10 of the charges. In a meeting Wednesday night, KFOR TV reports that many residents wanted school board members to resign. One person said he wanted to hold some people accountable that knew about the settlement before homeowners and landowners did. A consultant hired by the school board said taxpayers weren't notified in advance about the settlement because discussions are confidential until an agreement is made. Another suggestion was to postpone some school bond projects to use those funds though it was questioned if that could legally occur. The consultant said the board had to balance the financial impact of a potential verdict as well as what they believed would be a fair settlement and that the board spent hours considering the issues. School board member Dustin Tate said the board has been through all the emotions, all of the anger, and hopes that someone could bring the board new ideas. Another meeting is expected to be scheduled in a couple of weeks.

Fire Crews Summoned to Help with Meers Blaze

Grady County volunteer fire fighters were called out help with one of two wildfires in neighboring counties yesterday. The Grady County Task Force was deployed to the Meers Fire in Comanche County. Comanche County Emergency Management issued a fire emergency for a blaze that erupted near the Holy City where there were several evacuations. Access to Lake Lawtonka was closed to allow aircraft to scoop water out of the lake to help firefighter efforts. A large grass fire also erupted in Caddo County in the Cogar area where crews worked to beat back flames for several hours.

Ampo Students Experience 'Journey of Hope'

Students at Amber-Pocasset schools learned of the terrifying days that followed the April 19th, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City yesterday. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum now has a traveling exhibit called Journey of Hope which made a stop in Amber. Among the 168 people who died in the bombing was 18-month old Blake Kennedy, the son of Steve and Laura Kennedy of Amber. Laura worked in the Murrah Building and Blake was in the day care center that day. Steve and Laura's daughter Jennifer, who was born three years after the bombing and is an elementary school teacher at Ampo, says the memory of the brother she never met inspires her to encourage students to do great things in their lives-

The exhibit is used to the share the message of the 30th anniversary of the bombing which is 'A Day of Darkness - Years of Light'. It salutes not only the memory of those who died and the 600 people who survived the bombing, but also the work of the first responders in the days after the attack. Students were asked to sign pledge cards promising their own acts of Service, Honor, and Kindness which are considered the Oklahoma Standard. There was also a re-dedication of the Survivor Tree sapling planted at the school in Blake's honor on the 10th anniversary of the bombing. The tree is now 20 years old and thriving. The exhibit will be in Minco later this year and in 2025.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.47 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.65.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,732 and silver is $33.33.

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Thursday, Oct. 24th

Overdose Leads to Arrest of Suspected Drug Trafficker

A drug trafficking suspect is behind bars after Chickasha police respond to an individual suffering from a drug overdose. An officer was dispatched to a medical emergency in the 2800 block of South 4th Street Monday afternoon. A vehicle had pulled over and there was an unresponsive individual lying in the street with his lips turning blue. He was taken to the hospital. A probable cause affidavit indicates that officers found what was believed to be fentanyl in the vehicle and authorities arrested the driver, 23-year old Trace Levi Turkelson of Chickasha, on a drug complaint. At the hospital the man who overdosed told investigators that he and Turkelson were smoking the drug. Turkelson has been charged with a felony for aggravated trafficking and he is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $600,000 bond.

OKC Bombing Memorial Exhibit at Ampo Schools Today

Students at Amber-Pocasset schools will get to experience a traveling exhibit of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum today. It's called Journey of Hope which is an exhibit that will visit all 77 Oklahoma counties. The exhibit marks next year's 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. One of the children who died that day was Blake Kennedy. Relatives of Blake - Jennifer Kennedy and Christie McComas - will share their stories with students. The event is a chance to honor family members of those who died and the survivors and first responders who were impacted. State Rep. Dick Lowe of Amber and State Sen. Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle will be part of the program. After the program students will plant a Survivor Tree sapling.

Fire Danger High in Western Oklahoma

The Grady County Fire Department is asking individuals to take extra precaution today to help reduce the risk of wildfires. Much of western Oklahoma will be at a high risk for fires with temperatures rising above 90 degrees with south winds increasing to 30mph and higher. Burn bans are in effect for several counties and there should be no outdoor burning. Officials urge anyone hauling a trailer to make they won't be dragging a chain or even a piece of wire that can spark fires along the roadway. They also say if you see smoke to call 9-1-1.

Chix Mayor Prepares Inaugural 'State-of-the-City' Speech

Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson will present his first State of the City address next week. He's expected to discuss city achievements over the last year and plans for the city's future. The presentation will be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and will be held at noon next Thursday, Oct. 31st at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Cost is $25 for chamber members and $30 for prospective members. It includes a catered lunch from Luigi's. Individuals planning to attend should RSVP the chamber by the close of business Monday, Oct. 28th. Registration is available on the chamber's website: www.chickashachamber.com

State Special Olympics to Host First Autumn Games

For the very first time Oklahoma's Special Olympics athletes will have a competition this fall. More than 500 athletes will participate in the games which will be held in Stillwater this weekend. Among the sports will be equestrian competitions, flag football, cheerleading, and events for children as young as three years old. John Seals is the vice president of sports and training of Special Olympics in Oklahoma. He says the event represents a new chapter for the organization and marks a milestone in their efforts to offer inclusive sporting opportunities year-round. Special Olympics Oklahoma is already known for hosting the largest summer games in the country each May. The goal of the fall games is to build on that tradition by offering athletes more platforms to compete and connect with their communities. Games will be held on the campus of Oklahoma State University and the Youth Fitness Zone.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.40.

Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,749 and silver is $34.42.

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Wednesday, Oct. 23rd

Ninnekah School Board to hold Special Meeting Tonight

Ninnekah school district patrons are expected to pack the school cafeteria tonight. The school board has scheduled a special meeting to continue discussion of a recent decision to have property owners pay for a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the district which was settled out of court. The lawsuit was filed by more than a dozen former student-athletes who were sexually assaulted by former coach Ron Akins who is serving 25-years behind bars after pleading guilty to those charges. The school board initially passed a resolution to have the estimated 2,000 property owners in the district pay $3,000 over the next three years to help pay for the settlement. Tonight's meeting will get underway at 5:30.

Chix Council OKs Infrastructure Projects

Some left-over business from Monday night's Chickasha City Council meeting. The panel awarded a bid to Krapff-Reynolds Construction Company to rehabilitate a sewer lift station at 23rd and Grand Avenue at a cost of just over $73,000. The group also approved going out for bids for city janitorial services. The group also accepted some infrastructure work completed in the Sleepy Hollow residential area at 9th and Country Club Road on permanent sewer and draining easements. City officials are also inviting the public to a ribbon-cutting and open house at the airport next week for the new hangars that have recently been built. There will be a short program and lunch will be provided. The event will be Tuesday, Oct. 29th starting at 10 a.m. Officials ask that those planning to attend to RSVP by this Friday by calling city hall at 405-222-6010.

Speaker Named for Grady County Historical Society Event

The director of the Oklahoma Historical Society will be the guest speaker for The Grady County Historical Society's annual membership meeting. Trait Thompson will address the group during its 51^st anniversary celebration on Monday, Nov. 4th at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Reservations are due by Oct. 31st. Contact Pat Cunningham at the Grady County Historical Society Museum.

Chix Community Thanksgiving Meals to be Available

Thanksgiving is just over a month away and plans are underway to hold the annual Chickasha Community Thanksgiving dinner. Area churches are combining efforts to prepare a traditional meal with turkey and all the trimmings on Thursday, Nov. 28th. Deliveries will be available to homebound individuals and individuals can call New Life Christian Church at 405-222-5433 to place their orders. Those meals will go out between 10 and 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. To-go meals can be picked up at the Chickasha Soup Kitchen from noon to 1 p.m. that day. There will not be a 'dine-in' meal served. The meals are free but donations are welcome.

Cattle Producers to hold Chili Cook-off

Grady County Cattle Producers will host their first-ever chili cook-off and cornhole tournament next month. There will be adult and junior divisions with junior competitors to be under 18-years old. There is only one category for the chili cook-off which is homestyle chili. It is open to the public with entry fees of $25 for adults and $10 for juniors. The event will be held Friday, Nov. 15th at Hillcrest Nursery east of Verden starting at 6:00 p.m. For a list of rules contact the Grady County OSU Extension Office or see the Grady County Cattle Producers Facebook page.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.06.

Natural gas is $2.30 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,765 and silver is $34.81.

Obituary

Sheri Porter

A graveside service for Sheri Porter, 60, of Norman will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25th at Rose Hill Cemetery. She worked for the State of Oklahoma. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Oct. 22nd

Chix Council Approves Downtown TIF District 

By a 6-3 vote, the Chickasha City Council approved the creation of a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. John Smith, Erica Alexander, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Oscar Nelson, Kia Ginn, and Mayor Zack Grayson all voted for the plan while Brian Gerdes, Kelly Boyd, and Charlie Burruss voted against it. The district will go into effect on January 1st and will be in effect for 25 years until the year 2050. The district is basically the downtown area. January 1st will serve as the base to determine the amount of funds that will be set aside to help pay for the installation of future water and sewer lines. The city could see the first sales tax revenues as early as March or April of next year while increases in property tax revenues won't be realized until 2027.

New Housing Addition Gets Council Approval

The council approved the development of a new housing addition. After a short public hearing the panel voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat for what will be known as Enclave Estates southwest of 29th and Grand Avenue. The plat is about 16 1/2 acres and is already zoned for residential use. The proposal is to build about 74 homes all around 1,300 sq. ft. in size.

Current City Employee Applies for City Manager Post

Is Chickasha's next city manager already working for the city? Mayor Zach Grayson announced last night that he has put on hold a decision by the council to hire a head-hunting firm to conduct a nationwide search for candidates. Grayson told the council-

Grayson did not identify the individual who applied. The council will have a special meeting and executive session next week to discuss the candidate. Current City Manager Keith Johnson announced earlier this month he'll be stepping down at the end of the year.

More Counties Call for Burn Bans

Nearly half the counties in Oklahoma have now implemented burn bans. 30 of Oklahoma's 77 counties now have the bans due to warmer-than-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry vegetation, and a lack of rainfall all of which enhance the risk of wildfires. Yesterday commissioners in Grady and Caddo counties extended burn bans for two more weeks through Nov. 4th. Much of the state is in a drought with many areas in serious- to extreme-drought conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Chix Hosts State Chamber Executive's Conference

Chamber of Commerce representatives from across the state are in Chickasha this week for the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executive's annual conference. Nearly 100 chamber reps are attending sessions which include The Importance of Vibrant Downtowns in Rural Oklahoma; Effective Communication; an Update on the Political Landscape; Running Local Non-Candidate Campaigns; How to Prepare for Audits; Partnerships Between Chambers and Local Government; Tourism; and Community Impact Through Leadership Programs. The conference runs through tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.29 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.97.

Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,748 and silver is $34.45.

Obituaries

Beverly Sorrels

Funeral service for Beverly Sorrels, 84, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23rd at Sevier Funeral Home. She worked for Pool Mortgage Company and in the office of Epworth Methodist Church.

Kay Harris

A memorial service for Kay Harris, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9th at Verden First Baptist Church. She was a homemaker. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Monday, Oct. 21st

Chix Council to Consider Creating TIF District 

After getting the narrowest possible approval the Chickasha City Council will consider creating one of two proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts when the group meets tonight. The panel will consider a resolution to create and establish a commencement date beginning in January. The council voted 5-4 to approve the creation of TIF District 2 and TIF District 3 last month. The council will also have a public hearing to discuss a preliminary plat for a new residential area called Enclave Estates to be located in the southwest part of the city and consider awarding a more than $73,000 bid to a firm to rehabilitate a sewer lift station at 23rd and Grand. The council will also consider accepting and ratifying a master service agreement and Task Order 1 with Meshek and Associates for the city's flood mitigation project. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

Failed Lindsay Bank to Re-Open as Branch of Duncan Bank

Here is a follow-up to the weekend story about the closing of a Lindsay bank. Federal officials closed the First National Bank of Lindsay on Friday. News reports say the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) closed the bank after finding false and deceptive records suggesting fraud may have led to the depletion of the bank's capital. The agency also found the bank was in an unsafe or unsound condition to conduct business. The OCC is referring the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice for further investigation. The First Bank and Trust of Duncan will assume the insured deposits and will be opening in Lindsay this morning. All depositors of the closed bank will automatically become depositors of First Bank and Trust and their insured deposits will continue to be covered by the FDIC.

Burn Bans Expanding Across Parched Oklahoma

More Oklahoma counties are implementing burn bans as warmer-than-normal temperatures and dry conditions persist. Grady County has been under a burn ban for the last two weeks which was scheduled to end today but commissioners are expected to extend the ban when the panel meets this morning. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of Grady County in a severe drought with southern and western portions in an extreme drought. The drought monitor shows nearly all of Caddo, Stephens, and Comanche Counties also in extreme drought which impacts all of southwestern Oklahoma.

Grady County Sheriff Warns of Another Phone Scam 

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess is issuing another warning of a telephone scam where callers are posing as deputies and this time even using deputies' names.  A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page says callers say they are conducting a fundraiser for the office. The sheriff says deputies will never call and ask individuals to contribute to fundraisers nor will they ask you to pay any fines over the phone. Fines of any kind are paid at the court clerk's office in the county courthouse. Boggess says anyone who has a concern about a phone call they receive can call the sheriff's office non-emergency phone number, 405-224-0984.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.36 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.06.

Natural gas is $2.29 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,747 and silver is $34.19.

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Saturday, Oct. 19th

Feds Close Lindsay Bank

The First National Bank of Lindsay was closed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency Friday with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) appointed as receiver. It's the first bank failure in Oklahoma in ten years. News reports indicate that to protect depositors the FDIC has entered into a purchase and assumption agreement with First Bank and Trust of Duncan which will assume the insured deposits. The sole office of the First National Bank of Lindsay will re-open as a branch of First Bank and Trust Company on Monday. All depositors of the closed bank will automatically become depositors of First Bank and Trust and their insured deposits will continue to be covered by the FDIC. Customers do not have to change their banking relationship to maintain deposit insurance coverage. Over the weekend customers will still have access to their insured deposits via checks, ATMs, and debit cards. Checks drawn on the bank will continue to be processed and loan customers should continue making payments. For un-insured deposits FDIC will make half of those funds available to depositors starting Monday. That could be increased as assets from the failed bank are sold. Customers with accounts of more than $250,000 should contact the FDIC to discuss their deposits.

Talk Show Topic

Peggy Hammond and Kari Taylor with the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network (ICAN) along with Capt. Carrie Boggess of Grady County Sheriff's Office are guests on the KOOL Konversation to talk about October being Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Oct. 18th

Mother, Children Safe After Attack at Their Home

A Grady County mom and her two young children survive a late-night attack and a suspect is in jail in connection with the confrontation. Sheriff's deputies were called to a home in the Alex area to investigate a disturbance. In a probable cause affidavit it's alleged the suspect was trying the throw the victim out of the house. During the attack the victim said she heard a snap and thought one of her ribs had been broken.  The victim and children managed to get away and went to a neighbor's house. The victim later went to a hospital to be treated for her injuries.  Authorities arrested 41-year old Robert Justin Davis of Newcastle who investigators say had been drinking. Davis has been charged with a felony for assault and battery and domestic abuse. He remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond and is to be back in court next month for a preliminary hearing conference.

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The investigation is among many conducted by law enforcement agencies called out to look into reports of domestic violence. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. There is help and resources available for victims. If there's imminent danger officials say to call 9-1-1. To find a safe place and resources reach out to the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network (ICAN) by calling 405-222-1818 any time of day or night.

Antique Auto Swap Meet Continues Through Saturday

It's another good turnout for the Chickasha Antique Auto Club's fall swap meet. More than 100 vendors have a variety of car and truck parts and transportation related items for sale or trade. Hundreds if not thousands of visitors find their way to the swap meet each year. The swap meet takes place on the club's spacious 35-acre site next to the Grady County Fairgrounds. There are also vendors inside the north exhibit building at the Fairgrounds where a fall craft show is going on today and tomorrow with more than 50 vendors. Admission is free to both events. Paid parking benefits local charitable organizations.

Funny Car Champion to be at Olde Town Chix Car Show

Along with the swap meet there's a big car show downtown Chickasha tomorrow. It's the first ever Old Towne Chickasha Car Show with more than 30 categories of cars and trucks. There will be a special appearance from Shane Lawson, the driver of the new Chaos Funny Car champion Man O' War. Lawson won the title over the Labor Day weekend and it's his first title in more than 20 years of racing.  He gives a lot of credit to Chickasha's own Kendal Singleton who has been helping him for some time-

Man O' War is a 3,500 horsepower funny car that will be fired up during the show. Lawson's 9-year old daughter Pamela is following in her dad's footsteps and runs in the junior dragster and funny car circuits. Pamela's funny car will also be on display. The car show along with the monthly Cars and Coffee at the Leg will get underway at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning downtown at the Leg Lamp.

World's Largest Kites in Anadarko Tomorrow

Tomorrow is also a big day in Anadarko for the annual Kids, Kites, and Frights. The world's largest kites will be flying at the airport with lots of activities scheduled. There is a hay bale maze, face painting, inflatables, a petting zoo, a costume contest, and a pumpkin pie eating contest. There's also a chili cook-off, lots of vendors and informational booths, and food trucks. It's a free event that will run from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.41 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.15.

Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,727 and silver is $32.28.

Obituaries

Eddie Fowler

A private graveside service will be held for Eddie Fowler, 47, of Chickasha. He worked as a tree trimmer, at a lumberyard, and most recently at Aggreko. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Bobby Russell

A graveside service for Bobby Russell, 94, of Chickasha will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22nd in Amarillo, Texas. He was a U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Korean Conflict and in Vietnam and also served in the Naval Reserves for a total of 30 years of military service. He also worked at Pet Milk. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Oct. 17th 

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Child Abuse, Neglect

Caddo County authorities have arrested a suspect for allegedly beating a 1-year old child.  24-year old Jacob Honeycutt was arrested after Ft. Cobb police were called to an apartment where a baby girl had bruises on her face and neck. The Lawton Constitution cites a probable cause affidavit which indicates paramedics were called to treat the child and that her injuries were so severe she had to be air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Honeycutt said the baby had been struck with a plastic baseball bat by another child. Honeycutt was at the apartment when police arrived but he fled from the scene, however he was later arrested at Ft. Cobb Lake.  Honeycutt, who lists a Carnegie address, has been charged with felony counts of abuse and neglect as well as a misdemeanor for obstructing an officer. He remains in the Caddo County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Honeycutt is already on probation after pleading guilty to a burglary charge in 2020.  Prosecutors now want to revoke his probation in that case and a hearing set for next week.

Groups Unite to Reduce Domestic Violence Numbers

Oklahoma has the dubious distinction of being among the top five states per capita in the country for domestic violence. Law enforcement and domestic violence service organizations are combining efforts to get the numbers down. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Capt. Carrie Boggess with the Grady County Sheriff's Office has some nationwide numbers-

In this region the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network (ICAN) is available 24-7 to help victims and their children get out of violent relationships. 405-222-1818 is the number to call to talk to a live person to get help. The recent Together We Heal Walk to raise awareness about domestic violence brought in more than $14,000 to support ICAN programs.

Deadline Looms to Apply for Nov. 5th Absentee Ballots

Voters who want to cast ballots by mail ahead of the Nov. 5th election need to get applications for those ballots in the next few days. Officials say the deadline to request absentee ballots is next Monday, Oct. 21st. Anyone can vote by mail and don't need any reason to do so. Two mailings have to take place. Ballots are first mailed to voters who then need to mail them to their county election boards by Nov. 5th. Voters can apply for the ballots on-line by using the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections

Applications can also be downloaded from the website or picked up at county election boards and then mailed in. Anyone with questions should contact their local county election board.

Firm Helps Caddo County Sheriff with Calendar Project

Officials with the Caddo County Sheriff's Office say they have hired a company to solicit funds by telephone for a 2025 sheriff's office calendar. According to a post on the sheriff's office Facebook page a firm called Hometown Publishing is making phone calls to raise funds which will be used to support the sheriff's office community outreach programs. Anyone who may be unsure about phone calls they receive should reach out to the sheriff's office by calling 405-247-6666.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.69 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.57.

Natural gas is $2.36 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,697 and silver is $31.84.

Obituary

Kaaren Berry

Funeral service for Kaaren Berry, 82, of Ninnekah was held at 10:00 a.m. this morning (Thursday, Oct. 17th) at Sevier Funeral Home. She was an administrative assistant at Chickasha High School for several years.

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Wednesday, Oct. 16th

Grady County Precincts to Have Security on Election Day

When Grady County voters cast their ballots on Election Day they will notice some extra security at the polls. Grady County sheriff's deputies and municipal law enforcement officers will be on site at all county precincts on Tuesday, Nov. 5th. A post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page says the added security is to ensure the safety of citizens and precinct workers. Officials say there has not been a threat towards any of the precincts.

Jeep Driver Dies After Hitting Calf

A Marlow man died when his Jeep hit a calf that had wandered onto the roadway. The highway patrol reports that 48-year old Todd Cox died in the crash that happened eight miles east of Lawton Monday night. After hitting the calf the Jeep veered off the road, rolled several times, then crashed through a fence, ejecting Cox from the vehicle.

Chickasha Fall Clean-up Campaign Begins

The city-wide fall Clean-Up Chickasha campaign is underway. Residents can collect their unwanted items and take them to the city's Public Works Department and get rid of it. There will be large roll-off dumpsters at the facility which is on Genevieve Street north of the Grady County Fairgrounds and the city's animal shelter. There is a separate site for brush and limbs. The site will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today, tomorrow, and Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Users will have to show a utility bill. Shae Mortimer with the city of Chickasha says for the first time they'll accept hazardous waste, including-

The city received a grant from the State Department of Environmental Quality which will be used to help pay a firm to dispose of those hazardous items. Some things they won't take include electronics, smoke detectors, and medical waste. She also said they won't take latex paint which is not hazardous, however Mortimer said you can take the lid off of latex paint and let it dry and then it can be thrown away in your regular trash.

Vendors Arrive for Chix Antique Auto Club Fall Swap Meet

Antique car and truck enthusiasts will be coming to Chickasha in droves this weekend. The Chickasha Antique Auto Club hosts its 56th annual fall swap meet. The swap meet doesn't officially open until tomorrow but vendors will be arriving today to set up shop on the club's 35-acre site just east of the Grady County Fairgrounds. Some vendors will also be set up in the north exhibit building of the fairgrounds. The meet is attended by people from across the country and around the world. The swap meet runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and admission is free. Paid parking benefits local charities.

Chix to Host Jr. High Cross Country All-Star Competition

Hundreds of junior high school cross country runners from across the state will be in Chickasha this week for the 31st Annual All-Star Cross Country Meet. It's hosted by Jimmy Brackeen who coached for many years at Marlow. Brackeen says about 1,300 runners will compete over two days. Class A through Class 4A competitors will run tomorrow and those in Classes 5A and 6A will run Friday. Brackeen talks about the length of the courses-

The competition has been held at the Chickasha Sports Complex for several years. The races start about 9:00 a.m. both mornings.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.59 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.24.

Natural gas is $2.49 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,696 and silver is $32.10.

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Tuesday, Oct. 15th

City of Chix Begins First Steps To Flood Prevention Project

Last week the Chickasha City Council approved an agreement with an engineering firm to upgrade a flood prevention study and take steps to find the funding needed to implement that project. Edward Perez is the city's Emergency Management Director. He said one of the first things the city must do is the revise a 2021 study he says is already outdated-

Perez said he was able to find a preliminary hazard mitigation grant of $500,000 with some of the funds used to hire an engineering firm to revise that four-year old plan. The city council approved an agreement with an Oklahoma firm called Meshek and Associates which Perez says has had success in obtaining larger federal grants-

'BRIC' stands for Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities. Perez said the city is also collaborating with the Chickasaw Nation and Grady County commissioners and that the project is aligned with the federal Justice 40 initiative which works to ensure that benefits reach disadvantaged communities. The city must first apply for the BRIC grant then all grant requests will be considered early next year. Grants won't be awarded until next fall.

Chix Schools Seeks 'Hall of Honor' Candidates

Chickasha Public School officials are seeking nominations for the district's Hall of Honor. Candidates must be a graduate, former employee, volunteer, school board member, or a community supporter of the district. Candidates must have contributed to the welfare of humanity to an unusual degree, brought unusually positive attention to the district, or modeled the highest personal and professional qualities for students. Nominations are due by Friday, Nov. 22nd. Inductees will be selected in January and recognized at the Chickasha Public School Foundation annual gala in April. Applications are available at the administration building and they can also be found on the school district's website.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.04 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.65.

Natural gas is $2.46 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.35.

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Monday, Oct. 14th

Consumer Spending Slows in Grady County

Consumer spending slowed in the area over the summer. In Grady County, spending from mid-August to mid-September was estimated to be $62.4 million. That's down 26 percent from the previous month and is off 34 percent compared to the same time last year.  For the City of Chickasha consumer spending was just under $33 million for the mid-August to mid-September time frame. That number is up 2.4 percent from the previous month but down 5.1 percent compared to the same time last year.

Sales Tax Revenues

As far as sales tax revenues are concerned Grady County collected $468,000 this month which was down from $631,000 from the previous month and down from $710,000 from last year. The City of Chickasha received $1.4 million in sales tax revenues which is up from the $1.3 million the previous month and the previous year.

Chix School Board to Discuss Union MOUs

The board of education for Chickasha Public Schools will meet tonight and among the items on the agenda is to consider memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with two unions within the district. One is with the Chickasha Organization of Professional Administrators regarding the high school principal. Background information provided with the agenda indicates the responsibility of the principal extends beyond the current contract of 220 days. The memorandum calls for the principal to start July first for 238 days with 10 days of paid vacation.

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The other MOU is with the Chickasha United Teaching Association. While the district extended the length of school days this year officials did not increase contracted hours for certified employees. That has caused an issue covering duties before and after school and at lunch. The MOU would allow school principals to use certified employees beyond their contracted hours to help.

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The school board is also to consider a resolution calling for the annual school election in early 2025 to fill Office No. 5 on the board. That seat is held by Christy Clift.

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Also up for discussion is an MOU with the Chickasaw Nation for a summer feeding program next year. The Chickasaws would provide households of children who qualify for free and reduced price lunches with $120 ($40 per month for three months) to help families pay for food when the children are not in school. It is available for students regardless of tribal membership.

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The school board will also recognize a couple of middle school employees as Chicken Express Employees of the Month. They are certified employee Hope Link and support employee Mindy Crow. The school board meets at 6:00 p.m. tonight at the school administration building.

State, National Rig Counts Hold Steady

The rig counts in Oklahoma and across the nation stay relatively steady. Here's Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission-

Energy Prices

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.56 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.07.

Natural gas is $2.58 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,677 and silver is $31.55.

Obituary

Wilma Briley

Funeral service for Wilma Briley, 96, of Blanchard will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15th at Bible Baptist Church. She worked at American Optical for 30 years. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Awareness.

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Saturday, Oct. 12th

ODOT Updates 8-Year Plan for Highway, Bridge Construction

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission approves a plan to spend more than $1 billion a year over the next several years for road construction projects statewide. The panel approved the Oklahoma Department of Transportation's annual 8-year plan which runs from fiscal years 2025 through 2032. The plan includes nearly 3,800 miles of pavement improvements and more than 630 bridge projects. The website OK Energy Today reports there is a companion 'Asset Preservation Plan' which includes about $500 million for maintenance work to extend the life of highway infrastructure. There is also a 'Transportation Alternative Projects' segment which has $35 million for sidewalks, trails, and safe routes to school. All three plans can be viewed on the website: www.odot.org under the Programs and Projects tab.

Highway 81 west bypass of Chickasha included

The 8-year plan includes some construction of the U.S. Highway 81 west bypass of Chickasha. In his media column this week, State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) writes that work is expected to start next fall on grading and bridge projects on a 6 1/2 mile stretch of the bypass beginning at Quail Road (near 16th Street and the current Highway 81) and going north to U.S. Highway 62. The estimated cost of that work is $83 million and is to include grading for three bridges and on-off ramps.

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Other Grady County projects include continuing upgrades on State Highway 19 between Chickasha and Bradley with an estimated cost of nearly $50 million. 

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The plan also includes more work for the improvements underway right now on a 2 1/2 mile stretch of U.S. Highway 277 west of Ninnekah. Crews are rebuilding the highway from Middle Bills Creek to the H.E. Bailey Turnpike with that project cost estimated at $15 million.

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In the northern part of Grady County, crews will resurface six miles of State Highway 37 from Tuttle east to the McClain County line. That's a nearly $2 million project that is expected to start next spring.

Talk Show Topic

On the KOOL Konversation are Kirk Kornfeld and Chase O'Brien with the Chickasha Antique Auto Club with information about the group's Fall Swap Meet next weekend. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Oct. 11th

More Water Line Woes for Chickasha

Dozens of Chickasha homes and businesses had no or low water pressure yesterday. A water line ruptured behind the Plaza North Shopping Center near 10th and Choctaw about 11:00 a.m. The outage impacted about a 56-square block area including parts of downtown from 4th to 8th Streets. The outage forced the Grady County Courthouse to shut down yesterday afternoon and Chickasha Public Schools closed the administration building was which right across the street from the break. The school district also closed its enrollment center which was also in the outage area.

'Imagination Library' Program Serves Hundreds of Children

The Friends of the Chickasha Library are marking their second anniversary of partnering with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The program created by the Country Music Hall of Famer provides free books to young children. Jana Dabney with the Friends of the Library says hundreds of families are taking advantage of the program-

The Imagination Library is for children from birth through five years old. An age-appropriate book is mailed to the children every month and there is no cost to the families. Dabney says the Friends of the Library provides the funding and they are seeking contributions to continue their work. You can reach out to the Chickasha Public Library for information.

Spaghetti Day is Today

Everything is coming up spaghetti today! The Junior Social Workers are holding their 59th annual Spaghetti Day. The project brings in thousands of dollars which benefit a number of local charities including The Salvation Army, Court Appointed Special Advocates, the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network, Chickasha Police Department, and the Chickasha Public Schools Foundation. There are two times to get your spaghetti - from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and again from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. It all takes place in the north exhibit building of the Grady County Fairgrounds. Dine in and drive-through service is available.

Chix High School Homecoming Parade Today

Students at Chickasha High School are wrapping up Homecoming week which does include a parade downtown this afternoon. The parade will be different than in years past as officials opted to not have the high school classes make floats. Each class will ride on a flat-bed trailer. The parade will start at 4:30 this afternoon and will run basically from 3^rd Street and Chickasha Avenue and head west to about 10^th Street and Chickasha Avenue where it will disburse.

'Fright Night' Back for a Second Year

After the parade there will be more activities downtown, including the second annual Fright Night. Individuals participating in the pumpkin decorating contest need to have their entries to the Leg Lamp by 6:00 p.m. Then at 6:00 p.m. there is pumpkin painting at Shakespeare Wine Company. The costumed parade will start at 7:00 p.m. at Shakespeare Wine Company and traverse east on Chickasha Avenue (renamed Pumpkin Lane for October) and end at the Leg Lamp.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.10 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.62.

Natural gas is $2.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,655 and silver is $31.35.

Obituaries

Gene Fogle

Funeral service for Gene Fogle, 82, of Gracemont will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12th at the First Baptist Church of Gracemont. He worked at Hollytex and in the energy industry. Arrangements are with Turner Funeral Home of Binger.

Bobby Fritz

A memorial service for Bobby Fritz, 50, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12^th at Parkview Christian Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

David Crutchfield

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for David Crutchfield, 77, of Chickasha. He owned and operated This N That convenience store and TNT liquor. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Cindi Lennier

A memorial service for Cindi Lennier, 60, formerly of Ninnekah, will be held at a later date. She graduated from Ninnekah High School and Northeastern State University.

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Thursday, Oct. 10th

Details Emerge About Pedestrian Death on Turnpike

A follow-up today about that fatal accident on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike last Sunday where a pedestrian died. Court records indicate that Wallace Clay of Owasso was behind the wheel of a car that struck and killed Kreshardra Willhoite of Norman. The accident happened on the turnpike in Caddo County near mile marker 65. KSWO-TV cites court documents that Willhoite was with her family when their vehicle broke down. She and her brother were walking across the interstate looking for a tire when she was struck and killed. The documents say Chickasha police were able to locate Clay and detain him who then turned him over to the highway patrol. Clay reportedly told investigators that he was on the phone with his insurance company and claimed he hit a bird however DNA evidence suggested otherwise. Clay has been charged with a felony for leaving the scene of a fatality accident. He is out of jail after posting a $20,000 bond and a preliminary hearing conference won't be held until Jan. 16th. Clay faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

Local Salvation Army to Assist with Hurricane Relief Work

Representatives from the local Salvation Army will be heading to the southeast part of the country to help with relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Lt. Crystal McFarland said an employee and a volunteer will be headed to Atlanta, Georgia today to stage for help with Milton. As soon as it is safe to move in they will be sent to Florida to assist and will likely be there for about two weeks. McFarland will be going to Henderson, North Carolina to be the Liaison Officer for the incident command team in the area impacted by Hurricane Helene and will be on that assignment for a couple of weeks.

Defense Workshops Set to Guard Against Domestic Violence

October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month which is held to raise awareness about domestic violence and show support for victims and survivors. The Grady County Sheriff's Office will be co-sponsoring some self-defense workshops designed to provide information and techniques which could help save the lives of individuals who find themselves in domestic violence situations. The sheriff's office is teaming up with Wilcoxen's Family Academy to offer the free workshops. Officials say domestic violence is not gender-specific. Women, children, and men can all be victims. A couple of workshops will be available on Saturday, Oct. 26th at Wilcoxen's Academy in downtown Chickasha. The first will be from 9:00 a.m. to noon and the second from 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. The workshops are free but they are asking for donations which will be given to local domestic violence service organizations. A flyer promoting the workshop says the workshops are in honor of Holly Jerman and all domestic violence victims. For information contact Deputy Carrie Boggess at the Grady County Sheriff's Office. Victims of domestic violence can reach out locally to the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network 24-hours a day by calling 405-222-1818.

Golf Tournament to Benefit Special Olympics

A golf tournament to benefit Oklahoma Special Olympics will be held at the Chickasha Golf and Country Club tomorrow. The Chickasha Police Department will host the tournament in conjunction with the Law Enforcement Torch Run which is held in the days before the state Special Olympic Games in the spring. Assistant Chickasha Police Chief Daiman Alexander has been working with Special Olympics for years. His 15 year old son has Down's Syndrome. Alexander says there are a lot of Special Olympians in this region-

There will be a shotgun start between and 8 and 8:30 tomorrow morning. Entry fee is $100 per person.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.45 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.74.

Natural gas is $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,633 and silver is $30.82.

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Wednesday, Oct. 9th

Country Club Road Detour to End Soon

A culvert replacement project on Country Club Road is nearing completion. The project has had traffic near the Elks Lodge detouring through a neighborhood the last couple of weeks. Mayor Zach Grayson tells KOOL-RANCH News-

Another road project coming up in the next couple of months will be upgrades to Norge Road from 29th and Grand to Country Club Road as crews will put down a two-inch asphalt overlay on that stretch of highway.

Chix Municipal Court to Offer Food-for-Fines Program

The City of Chickasha will be offering an amnesty program for those who owe fines. A Food for Fines program will be in place next month where individuals can get $10 off their fines for each can or box of non-perishable food they bring in. The maximum credit per person will be $100. All the food will be given to the Emergency Food Pantry. This is the second straight year for the city to offer the program. The program only ran for about a week last year and in that short amount of time some $2,000 in fines were forgiven. It will run from Nov. 4th through Nov. 22nd.

Grant Awarded to USAO to Assist Native American

and Other Traditionally Under-Served Students

A new grant for USAO will allow the university to expand its student services programs. A more than $150,000 grant was awarded to the university's Native American-Serving Non-Tribal Institutions office and will benefit Native American students and traditionally under-served students. Kendall Walker is the director of the program and says part of the grant will be used to purchase laptops that students can check out from the library which will help to further eliminate barriers to education and create more opportunities for students to thrive. It will also help to launch a new ambassador program that will provide students with leadership and professional development opportunities.

Chix Police Department Adds Another Officer

The Chickasha Police Department has another new officer. Cody Rideout took his oath of office at this week's city council meeting. Cody is originally from Canada. He was inspired to be a police officer due to his father's service in the Canadian Air Force. Cody served with the Canadian Army and while doing so earned an Associate's Degree in Police Foundations.  He previously worked for Oklahoma County  Corrections and Cleveland County law enforcement.

Voter Registration Deadline for Nov. 5th Election Nears

The presidential election is less than a month away and individuals who are not registered to vote but want to cast a ballot will need to register soon.  The final day to register to vote is this Friday, Oct. 11th. Individuals must be 18 years old to register. For teenagers who may turn 18 after Friday but before the election, Maggie Evans with the Rock Island 4H Club said they can go ahead a sign up-

Individuals can go the state election board website to register – www.oklahoma.gov/elections, visit their county election board, or pick up applications at tag offices or libraries. Mailed-in applications will have to be post-marked by midnight Friday in order to get voter identification cards prior to the Nov. 5^th election.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.84 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.37.

Natural gas is $2.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,635 and silver is $30.91.

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Tuesday, Oct. 8th

Ninnekah Residents Angry About School Board's Decision

to Have Property Owners Pay Most of Lawsuit Settlement 

A number of Ninnekah school district patrons are upset over the school board's decision to have patrons pay for the settlement of a lawsuit filed against the district. Many spoke their minds about the settlement during last night's school board meeting. Last month, a federal judge approved an out-of-court settlement of $7.5 million regarding the lawsuit filed against the district concerning former girls basketball Ron Akins who pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting players. Each of 14 victims are to receive about $500,000 each. Insurance will cover $1 million and the school district will pay $500,000. The rest will be tacked on to the ad valorem taxes of the estimated 2,000 property owners in the district which could be as much as $1,000 a year over the next three years. Patrons want the school board to take another look to see if there other options.

Grady, Caddo Counties Now Under Burn Bans

Burn bans are now in effect for Grady and Caddo counties. Commissioners in both areas passed resolutions yesterday at the recommendations of municipal and county fire chiefs. There is to be no trash, brush, or pasture burning, no campfires or bonfires, and no fireworks. Welding is permitted however Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said precautions must be taken-

Outdoor cooking is allowed with charcoal and propane grills but must away from vegetation that may catch fire. The burn bans are in effect until Oct. 28th. Individuals can face up to one year in jail and a $500 fine if convicted of violating the ban.

Chix Council OK's 'Do-Over' for Norge Road Upgrade

The Chickasha City Council gave its approval to re-do part of a road improvement project. Officials spent tens of thousands of dollars on a chip-and-seal project for the Norge Highway from 29^th Street and Grand Avenue to Country Club Road because officials say it did not hold up due to heavy traffic. The council approved a two-inch asphalt overlay at an additional cost of $150,000. It is a joint project with Grady County District 3. It wasn't clear when that work might start. Officials hope to have it completed by winter.

Grant approved for new restaurant

The panel gave its consent to award a $125,000 Central Business District Grant to Luigi's Italian Restaurant. Also approved was hiring a national head-hunting firm to find city manager candidates for the council to interview.

First step to implement flood prevention project begins

The council also took a step to begin a project to attempt to alleviate flooding throughout the city. The group approved an agreement with Meshek and Associates - an engineering firm which would design projects for a flood mitigation effort. It's a massive ordeal with the city to get most of the funds from a 75-25 matching grant from FEMA. The funds would be used to implement a flood-prevention study that was done in 2021. The project would include building three large detention ponds west of the city. The city must first apply for the FEMA grant with the application to be submitted by next spring. Grant recipients will be announced next August and if approved could get underway in 2026.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.14 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $80.93.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,660 and silver is $31.52.

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Monday, Oct. 7th

Turnpike Pedestrian Dies After Being Hit By Car

The Oklahoma High Patrol is still investigating the death of a pedestrian who was struck by a car on the H.E. Bailey turnpike yesterday. It happened just after 3:00 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of the interstate near mile marker 65 in Caddo County which is a few miles east of Fletcher. The highway patrol reports that 46-year old Kreshadra Wilhoite of Norman died. The driver of the car identified as 50-year old Wallace Clay of Owasso was not injured. No other information was provided. The report said troopers are still looking into what caused the accident as well as the conditions of the driver and the victim at the time.

Pickup Drives in to Lake Burtschi

First responders were dispatched to Lake Burtschi yesterday after a pickup drove into the lake. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, Grady County sheriff's deputies, and the Grady County Dive Team were called out to assist in the recovery of the truck. Fortunately nobody was hurt. No additional information was released. Some photos are posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page.

Council to Consider Firm to Find City Manager Candidates

Tonight, the Chickasha City Council will consider employing a head-hunting firm to find candidates to be the next city manager. Current manager Keith Johnson resigned last month which is effective December 31st. It is being recommended that the council employ Strategic Government Resources to find potential candidates. Previous councils have used the firm. The cost would be no more than $55,000. Two other firms showed interest with one of them submitting a bid of under $25,000 but did not provide a proposal for its scope of work. The other company declined to submit information.

New Restaurant Seeks Grant Funds

The council will also consider giving final approval to a nearly $125,000 grant request to the company that opened Luigi's Italian Restaurant. The funds would come from the city's Central Business District Grant Funds. The proposed grant for Anautics, Inc. has been recommended for approval by the Chickasha Economic Development Council which indicated the company completed all the requirements needed for the grant. It offers one dollar of grant money for every three dollars spent by the firm on approved renovations. The council previously approved the grant this past January.

Panel to consider re-doing project on Norge Highway

The panel will also consider spending an additional $150,000 to re-do a road improvement project on 29th Street (Norge Highway) from Grand Avenue to Country Club Road. Officials say the chip-and-seal project which was just recently completed did not hold up to heavy traffic. Grady County District 3 will again assist. It calls for applying a two-inch asphalt overlay and striping once the project is finished. Officials want to get the work done before winter.

City to seek company to operate water treatment plants

During the Chickasha Municipal Authority portion of tonight's meeting the panel will consider going out for bids from companies that might be interested in operating the city's water treatment plants. If approved bids would need to be submitted by Oct. 31st. They city may interview as many as five companies and choose two finalists. The firm selected will be awarded a five-year contract with a possible five-year extension. The contract would begin July of 2025. The current contractor is USW out of Florida.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.33 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.86.

Natural gas is $2.83 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,676 and silver is $32.20.

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Saturday, Oct. 5th

Chix Neighborhood Without Water Several Hours Friday

Dozens of homes in Chickasha's Sleepy Hollow addition spent much of Friday afternoon and last night without water. The outage occurred when a utility company installing fiber lines ruptured a city water line. Authorities were hoping to get water restored before nightfall but were unable to do so. One resident in the area told RANCHNews water service was restored just after midnight.

State to Get Fed Funds to Build Electrical Transmission Line

Oklahoma will be the beneficiary of millions of dollars in federal funds that will be used to build a 400-mile electrical transmission line. the U.S. Department of Energy approved more than $300 million for what will be known as the Cimarron Link, running across the northern part of the state from the Panhandle to the Tulsa area. It's part of a project to strengthen the nation's electricity grid. The website OK Energy Today reports it is part of a nearly 1,000-mile transmission facilitation program which was supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law administered by the Department of Energy's Grid Deployment Office. The entire 1,000-mile project will reportedly create more than 3,600 construction jobs and 20 permanent operations jobs. The website said the project is very similar to one proposed by American Electric Power (AEP) the parent company of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) a few years ago. Texas regulators denied approval of that plan in 2018 and AEP canceled the project.

Duncan Rural Water Non-Profit Gets More Federal Funds

More federal funds are coming to a national group based in Oklahoma which helps get rural areas across the county access to clean water. More than $27 million has been awarded to the National Rural Water Association based in Duncan. It will allow the non-profit group to distribute capital assistance, technical assistance, energy assessments, disaster aid, and provide short-term financing to rural water districts nationwide. The funding is provided through USDA'S Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants and the agency's Water and Waste Disposal Revolving-Loan Fund.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Kenneth Corn with the USDA Rural Development office is on our KOOL Konversation discussing that multi-million dollar federal grant issued to the National Rural Water Association in Duncan. Find podcasts of the program under the Community tab on this website.

Obituaries

June Jackson

Funeral service for June Jackson, 94, will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7^th at Sevier Funeral Home. She and her husband Mike owned and operated Jackson Horse Trailers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry or the Chickasha Soup Kitchen.

Bobby Fritz

A memorial service for Bobby Fritz, 50, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12th at Parkview Christian Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Mission Food Bank in Norman.

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Friday, Oct. 4th

Motorcyclist Dies After Hitting Animal

A Chickasha man died after the motorcycle he was riding hit an animal. 70-year old Timothy Novotny died after his Harley Davidson hit a hog that was crossing Highway 81 about 1/2 mile north of Rush Springs. The accident happened just after 8:00 a.m. Thursday. The highway patrol reports that Novotny was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Novotny was wearing a helmet.

Two Face Animal Cruelty Charges

Two people are charged with animal cruelty after a number of dogs were found to be in poor condition in Amber. Police were asked to investigate allegations of animal neglect and officers went to the home Sunday. They found several dogs that appeared to be malnourished, one appeared to have a broken leg, some had mange, and were infested with fleas. Court documents indicate the suspects told investigators they didn't know what was wrong with the dogs and they didn't have money to take them to a veterinarian. Authorities arrested 39-year old Jessica Hunt and her boyfriend 36-year old Canon Wade Luney on animal cruelty and neglect complaints. Both have been formally charged with felonies of animal cruelty and Luney was also charged with a felony for having meth. Both are out of jail after posting bonds of $5,000. Both are to be back in court for preliminary hearing conferences next week. Four dogs were taken to a veterinarian who said on a scale of 1 to 9 the dogs were rated to be a 2 or 3.

Lt. Gov. Addresses Tourism Summit

Tourism officials from across the state met in Chickasha yesterday to get ideas on how to bring more visitors to their communities. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell was on hand for the meeting of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association. Pinnell said that tourism is the third largest industry in the state behind energy and agriculture. He said attractions like Chickasha' Leg Lamp, festivals, and even baseball and softball tournaments bring visitors to Oklahoma who spend money.

Pinnell said that spending generates sales tax revenues which helps communities pay for fire and police protection and infrastructure improvements.

What's Happening in Chix This Weekend?

There will be another influx of visitors to Chickasha this weekend for several events. The Muscle Car Ranch will host its annual TwisterFest tonight and tomorrow. The event includes live music, a classic truck show, and professional wrestling. Numerous bonfires will light up the ranch both nights. Roy's Barbecue will be in the historic Bree's Diner and H-Tea-Oh in the Bee Trail Diner. RV and primitive camping are available. See the TwisterFest Facebook page for information.

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A group from Virginia will be in town Sunday to visit the Verden Separate School. The school is part of a Black History Tour of Oklahoma. The school which was built in 1915 is the only surviving one-room school house in southwest Oklahoma. It served as a school for Verden's African American students under the separate-but-equal doctrine in the early part of the 20^th century. Several years ago the school was moved from a farm south of Verden to its current location at Genevieve Street and Ada Sipuel Avenue.

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The Gypsy Horse Association will be at the Grady County Fairgrounds tomorrow and Sunday. This is the last of three shows held by the group and it is the championship show for Region One. There will be Halter, English, Hunter, Western, Trail, Ranch, and Driving classes. There are several age groups including children, teens, open, and amateur divisions. Shows will start at 8:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.46 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.36.

Natural gas is $2.96 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,678 and silver is $32.28.

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Thursday, Oct. 3rd

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell to Make Chickasha Stop Today

Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell will be in Chickasha today to host a state tourism summit. He'll be the keynote speaker for the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association's meeting that will be held at the Rock Island Railroad Depot today. Members of the association will hold a board of directors meeting this morning with the summit this afternoon. There are two education sessions, one of which is called 'A Leg Lamp, Really?' to talk about the role that Chickasha's newest landmark has on economic development for the community and how communities and economic development tie into tourism strategy. A second session will include representives from across the region and Chickasaw Nation to discuss creating partnerships to market tourism. Jim Cowan with the Chickasha chamber of commerce and the city's economic development council is the vice chair for the Travel industry group. The chairwoman is Jennifer Thornton who leads the Visit Edmond tourism group.

New Chickasha Police Officer Takes Oath

A new officer has been sworn in to serve with the Chickasha Police Department. Ryan Pape has joined the force after working for about a year as a detention officer with the Grady County Jail. Pape was born in Texas but grew up in Ringwood, Oklahoma. He moved to the Blanchard area about a year ago. Pape said he wanted to be a police officer to support the community and citizens in their times of need and to be a role model for kids.

Historic Chix Hotel Remodeled into New Restaurant

Chickasha's newest restaurant has been holding a soft opening over the last few days to test the waters before its grand opening. The Savoy 1902 Barbecue and Deli is in downtown Chickasha and has a full menu of barbecue, chicken, salads, and sides. It's been a year-and-a-half in the making as developer Chet Hitt began renovations after purchasing the more than 120-year old hotel in December of 2022. Hitt tells the Southwest Ledger its been an expensive project at more than $1.3 million. It has about 15,000 sq. ft. of floor space and can seat about 80 patrons. A 20-foot bar built in the 1800s is on the west wall has about a dozen bar stools. A new smoker on the east wall is about 11 feet wide, five feet high, and six feet deep.

Humor Highlights Fall Chickasha Theatre Production

The Chickasha community theatre opens its weekend run of the hiliarious comedy, Dearly Beloved. It's described as an over-the-top wedding with three feuding sisters and a church full of small-town eccentrics. It's a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute performance which is a Southern-fried Jones Hope Wooten creation about love, marriage, sisterhood, and three hundred pounds of Texas barbecue. Our own Don Collett is part of the show. Performance times are 7:30 tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.54 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.30.

Natural gas is $2.92 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,664 and silver is $31.78.

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Wednesday, Oct. 2nd

Family Escapes Uninjured After Fire Destroys Their Home

A Grady County family manages to escape an early-morning fire that destroyed their home. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said the call came in just before 1:00 a.m. at the home located about two miles east of Chickasha on CR 2870 and south of Highway 62. Volunteer firefighters from Friend, Naples, and Ninnekah as well as the Chickasha Fire Department were dispatched. Crews were on the scene for nearly five hours as crews wrapped up their work just before 6:00 a.m. Several adults were in the home when the fire started but Gregory said they all were able to get out with no injuries. Gregory said the fire started when a pick-up that pulled up next to the home caught fire and spread to the house. About 15 firefighters and 10 fire trucks were called out and he estimates they used about 30,000 gallons of water. Gregory estimated the loss at $200,000. He did not release the names of those who were in the home.

CHS Students Asked to Take Random Civil Rights Review Survey

Chickasha school officials say the district has been randomly selected for a civil rights review by the State Department of Career Technology and Education. A post on the Chickasha Schools Facebook page says the district has done nothing wrong and no complaints have been filed against any school or the district. The post indicates it is a random review that Career Tech officials conduct to ensure schools are compliant with the law. The post also says that Chickasha High School students will be asked to complete a short survey asking about their knowledge of Career Tech opportunities; help available for special needs students; and how they can report bullying and harassment. Officials say the survey is anonymous and voluntary and students are asked to consider taking part in the survey although they don't have to. They won't be asked to provide personal information like their name or address.

Chix School Students Participate in Nat'l Walk-to-School Day

Today is National Walk to School Day and students from a couple of Chickasha schools are participating. Grand Elementary students will meet on the west side of Shannon Springs Park about 7:30 a.m. and take the estimated four-block walk to school. Students from the Lincoln School Intermediate Center will meet at the Leg Lamp about 8:00 a.m. will also walk four or five blocks to school. Teachers, parents, and volunteers will be assisting.

Two Inducted ino Grady County 4H Hall of Fame

A number of Grady County 4Hers were recognized for their work over the past year during the annual 4H Achievement Banquet held this week. Nearly 280 awards were presented and two 4Hers were inducted in to the Grady County 4H Hall of Fame. Abby Pettijohn from Alex 4H and Shane Williamson from the Rock Island 4H Club were so honored. Their portraits will be displayed at the OSU Extension Office for two years and both will receive a monetary award when they graduate from high school.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.91 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.57.

Natural gas is $2.93 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,674 and silver is $31.76.

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Tuesday, Oct. 1st

USAO to Celebrate Half-Century of Name Change

2024 marks a milestone year for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO). It marks the 50th anniversary of the re-naming of the school.  USAO is actually the fourth name for the institution since its creation in 1908. It was initially called the Oklahoma Industrial Institute and College for Girls. Four years later in 1912, the name was changed to the Oklahoma College for Women and it would be known as OCW for the next 43 years. In 1965 there was another name change as it became known as the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (OCLA). Nine years later in 1974 it was re-named USAO. A 'golden era' celebration of the name change will take place during Homecoming Weekend next month.

Former OCW Student was Part of NASA's Early Space Program

USAO president Kayla Hale spent some time in Washington, D.C. recently to attend the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring the contributions of women to the NASA space program. She learned that a former student of OCW was selected as the first woman to undergo astronaut testing in 1959 in the infancy of the space age. Jerrie Cobb attended OCW in 1948 and would go on to train to be the first woman to fly in space. She was the only woman to successfully pass all three phases of the Mercury astronaut tests. Though she was denied the opportunity to go to space she spent 55 years in the field of aviation and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Food Truck Championship Winners

We have the results from the Oklahoma Food Truck Championships from the past weekend. The Taco Station was the overall winner and claimed the top spot in the Savory Division. Runner-up in the Savory category was K and K Barbecue. In the sweet division, Ricky's Sweets and Eats was the winner with Mamma Lama Sweets in second. Mamma Lama also had the most creative entry overall. The fan favorite was Five-Star Barbecue.

Chocolate Celebration Tonight at Anadarko Library

Everything is coming up chocolate in Anadarko today. The Friends of the Anadarko Community Library will host their annual Chocolate Celebration. They are calling it ChoctoberFest, with attendees choosing from some 1,500 servings of the decadent dessert. Each of about 15 tables will have about 125 servings of chocolate to choose from. Librarian Teresa Ferguson tells how the Friends of the Library uses the money raised-

Tickets are $7 and each ticket allows for six servings of chocolate to be chosen. There will also be an auction of items like cakes, pies, and plates of brownies and cookies. Doors open at 5:00 this afternoon and the event runs from 5:30 to 7 o'clock or so.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.24.

Natural gas is $2.90 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.65.

Obituaries

Virgie Hensley

Funeral service for Virgie Hensley, 91, of the Verden and Chickasha area will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2nd at Sevier Funeral Home.

Pearl Tims

A memorial service for Pearl Tims, 84, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Oct. 2nd at First Baptist Church. She and her husband Johnny spent their lives in the ministry. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Reta Lister

A private memorial service will be held for Reta Lister, 72, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Monday, Sept. 30th

New Chix Airport Hangars are in Demand

Some new hangars recently built at the Chickasha Municipal Airport are already in use. Two 75' X 75' box hangars and a 10-unit T-hangar are now available. Airport Manager Darren Martin said one of the box hangars has already been leased and there is interest in the other. Pilots can lease units in the T-hangar to store their airplanes. Martin said officials from a state office will be on hand in a few weeks to help the city hold a grand opening-

Martin said the city received grants from the State Department of Aviation and Aerospace (ODAA) as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to build the hangars. Martin also said some recent changes made to the airport trust indenture that received narrow approval by the city council will also help the city develop an industrial park built next to the airport several years ago. The site has a paved road and utilities installed.

More Rural Broadband Grants Awarded

More rural areas of Oklahoma will be connected to broadband service over the next few years.  The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board awarded nearly $160 million in ARPA grants to a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) last week to help them build the infrastructure needed to provide reliable and affordable high-speed internet service to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses. For Grady County, Southern Plains Cable was awarded several grants. One for a nearly $7 million to get broadband service to an area north of Marlow; a $6.2 million grant for the Cox City area; a $2.1 million grant for the Alex area; and a nearly $2 million grant for the Sterling area. In Caddo County, Southern Plains Cable was also awarded a more than $4.6 million grant for the Cogar area; and the Carnegie Telephone Company was awarded a nearly $2 million grant for the Carnegie area. In Garvin County, Trace Fiber Networks was issued two grants totaling more than $20 million; and Pioneer Telephone Company was awarded two grants totaling $1.3 million for the Lindsay area. ISPs will provide some matching funds to help pay for those projects.

Sinking Oil Prices Not Good for the Oil Patch

Crude oil prices have been slipping in recent weeks. Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation reports that has an impact in the oil field-

That's Matt Skinner from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.99 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.63.

Natural gas is $2.90 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.77.

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Saturday, Sept. 28th

More Broadband Grants Approved

A state agency approves a number of new broadband expansion grants to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to get high-speed internet into rural parts of Oklahoma. The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board approved nearly $160 million in ARPA grants this week. That is expected to get reliable and affordable high-speed internet to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses.

Grady County

Southern Plains Cable was approved for a nearly  $7 million grant for the Marlow area; a $6.2 million grant for the Cox City area; a $2.1 million grant for the Alex area; and a nearly $2 million grant for the Sterling area.

Caddo County

Southern Plains Cable was also awarded a more than $4.6 million grant for the Cogar area. The Carnegie Telephone Company was awarded a nearly $2 million grant for the Carnegie area.

Garvin County

Trace Fiber Networks was awarded two grants for more than $20 million. Pioneer Telephone was awarded two grants totaling $1.3 million for the Lindsay area.

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ISPs will provide some matching funds to pay for their projects. The broadband governing board will have one more round of grant awards through the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program.

Thousands to Gather for Rock Island Weekend

Downtown Chickasha will be thriving today with all the events associated with the Rock Island Weekend. It kicks off this morning with the Rock Island Ride bicycle tour. More than 150 registered ahead of the event and organizers are beginning same-day registration right now at Brandy's in the Old Town District. The ride will start at 9 a.m. Today will be day two of the Rock Island Arts Festival going on in the 400 and 500 blocks of Chickasha Avenue with more than 100 vendors. The big draw will be the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship with more than 30 trucks on hand. Also the Intervention and Crisis Advocacy Network (ICAN) is partnering with a number of groups for the annual Together We Heel (Heal) walk against domestic violence that will start at the Leg Lamp with some individuals showing solidarity with victims by wearing red high heels to raise awareness about domestic violence and to raise funds to help victims and their families.

Talk Show Topic

This week's guest on the KOOL Konversation is Linda Medford who is the Southwest Oklahoma Regional Preparedness Program Manager with the American Red Cross.  A podcast of the program can be found under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Sept. 27th

More Illegal Grow Facility Suspects Arrested

We have an update on that search warrant served on an illegal marijuana grow operation this week. A total of 10 people were arrested in the raid that occurred north of Chickasha Wednesday afternoon. The sheriff's office SWAT team discovered about 16,000 plants, 150 pounds of processed marijuana, and more than $7,000 in cash. During their arraignments in Grady County District Court yesterday eight men  and two women - all Asian Nationals - were formally charged with single counts of drug trafficking. All remain in the Grady County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bond each. If convicted they all face maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and/or fines of $100,000.

Anadarko Library Warns of Phone Scam

Another telephone scam to warn you about. This one is a caller posing as someone representing the Anadarko Community Library. Reports are that a caller is trying to collect fines or anything else monetary according to a  post on the 'Anadarko, OK What's Happening' Facebook page. The post says the library does not and will not call patrons to collect fines over the phone.

Oklahoma Utilities Send Crews to Hurricane-Stricken Areas

Hurricane Helene made landfall in the Florida Panhandle last night and much of the southeast part of the country will be impacted by the massive storm for days. Some Oklahoma utilities are responding by sending power crews to that area. Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) is sending about 85 workers from its Lawton, Tulsa, and McAlester service areas to help Florida Power and Light. Mike Hixson with PSO said about 30 technicians only recently returned from the Louisiana area after repairing damage left in the wake of Hurricane Francine-

Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OGE) sent about 100 line restoration crew members to Georgia to help with power restoration efforts.

Rock Island Weekend Underway

The Rock Island Weekend begins today in downtown Chickasha. The Rock Island Arts Festival kicks things off in the 400 and 500 blocks of Chickasha Avenue with about 100 vendors. There will be food trucks on hand both today and tomorrow. Something new will be a mural competition where artists will have 24 hours to complete their projects. Also part of the arts festival will be an exhibition from local artist Wes Hallmark. He will have a number of pieces on display at USAOs Art Wrecker Studio downtown. He says he's only recently gotten serious about his work-

The exhibit includes dozens of items, some so small they fit in your hand to one nearly 12-feet tall that he has been working on for about a year. The exhibit will be tomorrow evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX opened at $67.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.60.

Natural gas is $2.59 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,685 and silver is $32.06.

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Thursday, Sept. 26th

One Dead, One Hospitalized After Crash

State troopers continue to investigate a deadly crash that claimed the life of a Grady County woman and sent a second person to a hospital. Killed in the accident was 50-year old Tara Allen of Minco. The accident happened just before 7:30 last night about a half-mile west of Tuttle on State Highway 37. Authorities have not said how the accident may have happened. Allen's car collided with an SUV that was driven by 29-year old Jerry Spain of Arkansas. Spain was pinned in his vehicle for about 30 minutes before being freed by the Tuttle Fire Department using their jaws-of-life. Spain suffered leg injuries and was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was last in stable condition. The accident closed the highway for more than four hours.

Another Illegal Grow Facility Taken Out

Several suspects are in custody after Grady County sheriff's deputies take down another illegal marijuana grow facility. This one was located just north of Chickasha. Sheriff Gary Boggess said there were thousands of plants and about 150 pounds of finished project found at the site about two miles north of the Chickasha airport. Boggess said his SWAT team executed a search warrant at 1704 County Street 2840 which is an Amber address. Deputies estimated there were 16,000 plants inside. A photo is posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page. Boggess said that the facility's license from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics had been revoked and its license from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority was expired. Deputies have arrested eight Asian Nationals on complaints of aggravated drug trafficking. All are men who are 45 to 71 years old. Just last week deputies served a search warrant on an illegal grow in  Pocasset where they found hundreds of plants in and around that site. Boggess said the two facilities are not connected.

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking

A Chickasha man is jailed on a six-figure bond for alleged drug trafficking. 44-year old Joseph Dixon was arrested last weekend after a sheriff's deputy made traffic stop in a Chickasha neighborhood near Arkansas Avenue and Shepherd Street. Dixon was a passenger in the car. A probable cause affidavit indicates Dixon was a known distributor. The deputy said that Dixon had drugs that field tested positive as being Fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine. Dixon has been formally charged with felonies that include drug trafficking and distribution, and misdemeanors for having drug items and obstructing an officer. His bond was set at $200,000. Court records show Dixon pleaded guilty to previous drug and weapons charges stemming from arrests in 2013.

Chix Schools Receives OU 'K-20 Center' Grant

The Chickasha school district has a received a grant from the University of Oklahoma designed to assist and follow 7th and 8th grade students through their senior years in high school and beyond.  It's the Gear Up for Success Grant from the K20 Center. A program will be held at the middle school tonight. Families can get information on how they can support students and learn about ways to pay for college. It's a free program tonight at Chickasha Middle School Auditorium from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and presentations will be available in English and Spanish. Free pizza will be served and students can play games to win an Echo Dot.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.74 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.39.

Natural gas is $2.67 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,692 and silver is $32.57.

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Wednesday, Sept. 25^th

Chickasha Clean-Up Days Scheduled

The City of Chickasha will have a city-wide fall clean-up campaign. It is scheduled for Oct. 16th through 19^th and citizens are encouraged to take unwanted items and debris to the public works headquarters at 502 N. Genevieve Street. The city will have roll-off dumpsters at the facility for residents to place their unwanted items in. There will also be a limb drop-off area. Users will need to have with them a current utility bill to show proof of residency. The Community Development Department will provide a dump ticket for those who live in the city limits but do not have a water bill due to ongoing work or code violations. Public Works will have the gates open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday and from 8:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

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On Saturday only they will accept tires and some hazardous items including anti-freeze, motor and gear oil, batteries, corrosives, fluorescent lights, aerosol and oil-based paint, and pesticides. Items they won't accept are electronics, medical waste, and latex. Refrigerators and air conditioners will have to have the Freon removed by a technician and users will have to provide a certificate saying the Freon has been removed. For more information visit the City of Chickasha website: www.chickasha.org

Voter Registration Deadline Nears

The deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 5th general election is fast approaching. The last day to register is Friday, Oct. 11th. Applications must be received by the state or county election board offices by midnight that night in order to vote in November. Applicants will be notified in writing when their application has been processed and will receive a Voter identification Card in the mail. The easiest way to register to vote is to go to the state election board website www.elections.ok.gov

Look for the OK VOTER PORTAL. While the election is Nov. 5^th individuals can apply for an absentee ballot to vote early by mail. In-person, absentee voting will be available at county election boards on Wednesday, Oct. 30th through Friday, Nov. 1st. from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 2nd from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Bank Foundation Provides Grant for Salvation Army Project

The Salvation Army serving Grady and Caddo counties gets a boost to provide some clothing items to needy children. The Arvest Foundation provided a $5,000 grant for the Salvation Army's 'Shoes, Shirts, and Skivvies' program. It's a back-to-school initiative by the Salvation Army to provide essential clothing to the kids. Karene Sandra is the Arvest Community Bank President in Chickasha. She said Arvest is committed to supporting the youth in the area and proud to help with the effort. Salvation Army Lt. Crystal McFarland said they are fortunate to have great community partners who help those in need. McFarland said they have been able to help nearly 250 children this year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.06 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.71.

Natural gas is $2.59 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,681 and silver is $32.13.

Obituary

Keith Tampkins

Funeral service for Keith Tampkins, 60, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26th at First Baptist Church. He was a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Sept. 24th

PSO Schedules Regional Power Line Upgrade

Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) will be making improvements to some of its transmission lines in the Chickasha area next year. Mike Hixson is the utility's external affairs manager and describes the project-

Hixson said the project will be starting next spring and will take several months to complete.

USAO Makes Top 20 Status Again

USAO continues to get national recognition. For the third straight year the university has been named a top 20 public liberal arts college in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report edition of best college rankings. The rankings evaluate nearly 1,500 colleges and universities in more than 15 areas of academic quality, with an increased emphasis on social mobility and outcomes for graduating students. The National Liberal Arts Colleges category includes schools emphasizing under-graduate education that award at least half of their degrees in liberal arts fields (which includes military academies). USAO President Kayla Hale said to be recognized in the top 20 shows the dedication of faculty and staff who work to ensure students have the skills and knowledge needed for a  successful future.

Red Cross Seeks Volunteers

The American Red Cross is looking to add to its volunteer base. Linda Medford is the regional preparedness program director for much of southwest Oklahoma. She talks about a couple of areas where individuals can help-

They are also looking for individuals to be a disaster preparedness presenter to offer programs to civic groups and schools. Medford said The Red Cross teamed up with the Salvation Army of Grady and Caddo Counties to assist with a wildfire in Lawton last weekend. For information visit the website: www.redcross.org

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.23 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.69.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,656 and silver is $31.26.

Obituary

Mark Chappell

Funeral service for Mark Chappell, 62, of Tuttle will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25th at Trinity Crossing in Tuttle. He was an electrician. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

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Monday, Sept. 23rd

Fall Arrives with Flooding Rains

Torrential rains in part of Oklahoma on the first day of fall yesterday (Sunday) were a welcome relief from the heat. But too much rain caused flooding issues in some areas. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning for the Tri-City area as Blanchard, Tuttle, Newcastle, and Bridge Creek were getting rain that was falling at rate of as much as four inches per hour. The flood warning issued about 2:15 p.m. and was in effect until 6:15 p.m. No damage was reported. Rainfall totals from Mesonet sites show that Norman received more than 4.7 inches of rain; Rush Springs collected 2.6 inches; Chickasha nearly 1.9 inches; and Minco 1.7 inches. Caddo County missed out on the heavy rain as Apache received about eight-tenths and Ft. Cobb picked up just over a half-inch of rain. The storms also cause sporadic power outages in Chickasha, Minco, Blanchard, and Tuttle. At one point there nearly 2,000 combined outages between Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and electric co-op members last night.

Native American Tribes to Host Disability Awareness Day

Several Native American tribes will combine resources to help disabled tribal citizens find employment. A Disability Awareness Day will be held in Anadarko next Monday, Sept. 30th. The program will be held at the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes COVID Command Center in Anadarko from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. that day. There will be information about training and tuition assistance, clothing and transportation assistance, and counseling and guidance services. Also taking part will be the Apache Tribe, the Delaware Nation, and the Comanche Nation. Adrian Smith is the Director of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes. He says for those who can't make it to the program there are other options available.

There will also be a couple of motivational speakers.

Chickasha to Close out September with Rock Island Weekend

Chickasha will be the place to be for the upcoming weekend. It's called the Rock Island Weekend and includes four events that will bring thousands of visitors to town. It starts Friday with the 16th annual Rock Island Arts Festival. About 100 vendors will line the 400 and 500 blocks of Chickasha Avenue with art work, home decor, jewelry, clothing, etc. There will be a children's area with an art tent, inflatables, and a sand pit and will take place both Friday and Saturday. Saturday morning kick off with The Rock Island Ride with as many as 300 riders expected. Rides will be from 10 miles long to 63 miles. Also Saturday morning is The Together We Heel Walk against domestic violence hosted by the district attorney's office and law enforcement groups. Individuals are encouraged to a walk a half-mile in heels to raise awareness about domestic violence and raise funds to assist victims. Also Saturday is the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship which will feature more than 30 food trucks competing for a total of $10,000 in prize money. There will be live music throughout the day which will be capped off with a free concert by Summer Breeze that evening.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.21 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.67.

Natural gas is $2.47 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,647 and silver is $30.96.

Obituaries

Kristianna 'Anna' Saenz

A memorial service for 'Anna' Saenz, 23, of Cement will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 26^th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

Vicki Underwood

A memorial service for Vicki Underwood, 71, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 29th at Grand Assembly of God. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Sept. 21st

Juvenile Arrested for Alleged School Threats

Authorities have arrested a juvenile for allegedly making threats toward Minco schools this week. According to a post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page the juvenile is also accused of threatening other schools. Minco schools were threatened Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and forced officials to close school Tuesday due to a bomb threat. The post indicates that Minco's school resource officer Deputy Berger conducted much of the investigation. Authorities say the juvenile's name will not be released and that the investigation is on-going.  Minco Superintendent Kevin Sims posted a letter on Facebook saying the juvenile will be charged with Commiting a Terrorism Hoax and Threatening to Commit Physical Harm. Sims thanked School Resource Officer Berger, the Grady County Sheriff's Office, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and the FBI for their work. He said the district will stand strong in the support of the filing of charges.

Remains of Teen Who Died in Pennsylvania Boarding School

Nearly 140 Years Ago Returned to Anadarko

A solemn ceremony was held in Anadarko today as the remains of child who died at a Pennsylvania Indian boarding school over 100 years ago were returned to her home. Kate Ross was taken from her Anadarko family in 1879. She was 15-years old at the time of her death which occurred less than six months after arriving at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in 1885. Leaders with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes have been diligently working with Pennsylvania officials to have the remains of the children who died returned to their homes. The purpose of boarding schools across the country was to remove Native Americans from their cultures and lifestyles and assimilate them into the white man's society.  Following a graveside ceremony for Kate at Rock Springs Cemetery there was a celebration of life at the Wichita Community Building to honor all the tribe's children whose lives were lost during the adoption of the Indian Boarding School policies.

Chix Begins Annual Chlorine-Only Water Treatment Program

The City of Chickasha is beginning an annual waterline maintenance project today. Officials at the water treatment plant will be using chlorine only to treat the water coming in from the Ft. Cobb Reservoir. Officials say chlorine will help remove biofilm that collects in water pipes over the course of time. Officials say once the chlorinated water moves through the distribution system, tap water will briefly become discolored and smell and taste like chlorine. This process will take place over the next 30 days. The private contractor which operates the water plant, USW, will return to the normal process of treating the water around Oct. 22nd.

Anadarko Officials Seek Help in Finding Lead Water Lines

In Anadarko, officials are asking for help in identifying the number of lead water lines that may be remain in the community. A post on the city's Facebook page says the city is working to comply with new requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Officials say going door-to-door to all the 2,600 homes and businesses with water meters isn't feasible so they are asking consumers to fill out notices that have been mailed to them. The survey is voluntary and does not cost anything. Questions can be directed to the Anadarko Water Department.

Talk Show Topic

On the KOOL Konversation, Adrian Smith and Erica Camero with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes will have information about a disability awareness day they'll be co-hosting with the Delaware Nation, Apache Tribe, and Comanche Nation to help disabled Native Americans find employment. There is a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Sept. 20th

Grady Memorial to Add New Services

A new partnership for Grady Memorial Hospital will bring orthopedic and podiatry departments to the area. The hospital is teaming up with Southwest Orthopedic Services of Oklahoma City to bring specialists to Chickasha which will allow patients to see them a lot earlier than having to make long-range appointments and avoid the drive to the Oklahoma City Metro area. A press release issued by the hospital indicates the orthopedic department will specialize in the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries and diseases affecting bones, joints, ligaments, and muscles. The podiatry department will focus on the medical and surgical treatment of foot and ankle conditions including a diabetic and non-diabetic wound specialist. The clinics will be in a newly-renovated facility on the main floor of the professional building and will have state-of-the-art equipment including new lift-assisted beds and its own x-ray area.

Alex Community to hold Founders Day

The community of Alex will celebrate its Founders Day tomorrow. It was incorporated in 1910 making it 114 years old but the area is said to have been founded 25 years earlier in 1885 by cattle rancher Red Alexander. A Google search shows he is considered to be the first white man to settle the area. Activities include a parade, a car show, live music, arts and crafts vendors, a cornhole tournament, and a bake-off. Local historian Norman Voss will have displays for the communities of Alex and Old Fred, as well as the Chisholm Trail and town history will be on display in the community center. There will be a grand opening of a new store called Branded by Brandy Boutique and The Patch at Spring Creek will have pumpkins and mums for sale. Founders Day in Alex will be from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Suspect wanted for Stabbing Arrested

A Chickasha man wanted in connection with stabbing a woman is in custody. An arrest warrant was issued Sept. 4th for 45-year old Marcus Don Brown after a violent confrontation with the victim. In an arrest warrant affidavit, Chickasha police say the attack occurred the evening of Aug. 27th. The victim reported that Brown held a knife to her throat and chest, cut her on her thigh, and threatened to kill her. Grady County deputies arrested Brown earlier this week on the warrant for felonies of domestic assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and threatening violence. Brown is also facing a misdemeanor charge for resisting arrest. Brown remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of an $85,000 bond.

Trafffic on Cottonwood Road to be Detoured for Weeks

Here's a traffic advisory for motorists who use Cottonwood Road east of U.S. Highway 81. Beginning Monday both lanes of Cottonwood Road will be closed for several weeks as contractors replace a culvert and make some road improvements. The road closure will be from about 1/2 mile east of Highway 81 near Royal Filter to about Sooner Road. Detour signs will be in place on Monday. The project is expected to take about 60 days.

Youth Rodeo Competition in Chickasha for the Weekend

Over 150 youth throughout Oklahoma and from surrounding states are in Chickasha this weekend with the Heart of Oklahoma Youth Rodeo Association (HOYRA). All the events will be held in the Event Center at the Grady County Fairgrounds. The group holds monthly events across the state including Duncan, Woodward, and Pawhuska. They'll be back in town in March and May of next year with May being HOYRA's state finals. There are age divisions from 6-and-under to 14-19 in events that include barrel racing, team roping, goat tying, and calf tie-down.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.85 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.65.

Natural gas is $2.34 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,626 and silver is $31.45.

Obituary

James 'Jim' Hobgood

A memorial service for Jim Hobgood, 88, of Anadarko will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Sept. 23rd at the Verden First Baptist Church. He was a cowboy, a competitive team roper, and a U.S Marine Corps veteran. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Sept. 19th

Judge Approves Multi-Million Dollar Settlement

of Lawsuit filed Against Ninnekah School District

A U.S. district judge has approved a $7.5 million settlement of a lawsuit filed against the Ninnekah School District. The district was accused of ignoring complaints that former girls basketball coach Ron Akins sexually assaulted more than a dozen players. Akins pleaded guilty to charges related to the investigation and was sentenced to serve 15 years in prison followed by 25 years of probation. The Oklahoman reports that four former school officials were dismissed from the lawsuit as part of the settlement including a former superintendent, principal, athletic director, and secretary. In a news release, Ninnekah school officials say the district denies any liability to the plaintiffs under state or federal law as a result of the allegations giving rise to the case, as a result of the alleged conduct of Akins or otherwise. Attorneys for the 14 victims say their clients are survivors and suffered unimaginable trauma as young children. They are pleased to have reached a settlement and hope to make all schools across the state safer by bringing awareness to child sex abuse in public schools.

Search Warrant Served on Illegal Pot Operation

About 25 Grady County deputies combined to execute a pre-dawn search warrant at an illegal marijuana grow operation in Pocasset yesterday. Investigators found more than 500 plants inside and outside the buildings on site. The facility is just a few blocks away from the Pocasset Elementary School. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess said the search warrant was issued after a suspect was arrested last week for growing and selling marijuana out of his trailer which was close to the school. Boggess said more than 50 plants were found inside a building and hundreds more found in a wooded area just behind the building. Boggess said the facility was properly license up until a couple of months ago-

No one was at the facility when deputies arrived however Boggess is anticipating that arrest warrants will be issued. Boggess said the illegal plants were collected and taken to an undisclosed location where they were destroyed by pouring diesel fuel on them and burying them in a 20-foot deep pit.

Chix School District Looks to Increase Safety, Security

In an attempt to increase security at Chickasha Public Schools officials will be enforcing student identification procedures with students getting new ID badges. A Facebook post from the district indicates that high school students are getting their badges this week. The statement says that all students and employees are to wear their photo IDs at all times while on school property and attending events on school district grounds. The ID badge will act as the scan card for any school entry access. Students who forget their badges will have to go to the office to get a temporary sticker. If a student loses a badge a new badge will cost $5.

Chix' Annual Water Line Maintenance Starts This Weekend

The City of Chickasha will soon begin an annual maintenance program that is designed to clean out the city's water lines. Starting Saturday, USW - the private contractor that operates the water treatment plant - will begin using chlorine only to treat the water. Officials say while the chlorine level will be elevated it will be within Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) guidelines. The chlorine is designed to remove biofilm buildup in the waterlines. Officials say tap water will initially be discolored and briefly taste and smell like chlorine. Individuals who use tap water for kidney dialysis treatments should contact their doctor to determine if any changes are needed and those who have aquariums should monitor chlorine levels. The program will run from Sept 21st through Oct. 21st.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.65 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.53.

Natural gas is $2.31 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,616 and silver is $31.53.

Obituaries

Kylee Byfield-Andrews

Funeral service for Kylee Byfield-Andrews, 27, of Yukon and formerly of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Sept. 20th at Sevier Funeral Home.

Janet Mainka

A graveside service for Janet Mainka, 62, of the Lindsay and Chickasha area will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Sept 27^th at the  Green Hill Cemetery in Lindsay.

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Wednesday, Sept. 18^th

Public Schools Dealing with Numerous Threats

A lot of Oklahoma's public schools are dealing with threats made to their respective districts this week. Chickasha Public Schools were the target of threat this past weekend and Minco schools had threats both Monday and Tuesday, including a bomb threat yesterday that had the district cancel classes. Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin posted a video on the district's Facebook page with this response –

Croslin asked parents to monitor the messages, posts, apps, and people their children communicate with on a regular basis. He said the district has increased security at schools throughout the district by adding security vestibules, visitor management protocols, new camera systems, and additional school resource officers.

Minco schools 

Minco superintendent Kevin Sims said the district received another threat last night through Tik-Tok and other social media profiles. Minco did have school today and Sims added there will continue to be serious law enforcement presence.

Country Club Road Traffic to be Disrupted

A portion of a busy Chickasha road will be closed to through traffic for a few weeks for what's called a major culvert replacement project. Starting this morning, Country Club Road will be closed between Flanders and Pond Ridge. That's in the area of the Chickasha Elks Lodge. Traffic will be detoured through the neighborhood south of Country Club Road. An alternate detour for passenger cars and trucks would be to use Carolina Avenue between 16th and 29th Streets and heavy truck traffic can use Grand Avenue from 16^th Street to the Norge Highway.

Mental Health Agency Marks Anniversary

Red Rock Behavioral Health Services is marking a big milestone. The agency is in its 50th year of providing mental health services to the region. Courtney Hill is a licensed professional counselor with Red Rock and talks about the recent expansion at the Chickasha center-

Red Rock will be holding a fall festival to celebrate. The festival will be held outdoors on the USAO Oval from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19^th. It is free and open to the public and will include food and games.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.95 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.54.

Natural gas is $2.31 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,596 and silver is $30.90.

Obituary

Ernest 'Rusty' Adams

Funeral service for Rusty Adams, 71, of Chickasha is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Sept. 17th

Motorized Bicycle Rider Dies After Being Hit by Pickup

Chickasha police say a man riding his motorized bicycle died after his bike was hit by a pickup over the weekend.  50-year old Robert Fritz passed away from injuries he sustained in the accident after being taken to Grady Memorial Hospital. The accident happened about 7:00 p.m. Saturday near Centennial Park at the intersection of 7th and Idaho. Police report that Fritz failed to stop at a stop sign and drove into the intersection and was hit by the pickup. The driver of the pickup was identified as Heidi Harrison who was not injured.

OKC Crash Claims Life of Former Chix Resident

A former Chickasha resident died a multi-vehicle crash which involved a semi in Oklahoma City over the weekend. 27-year old Kylie Byfield of Yukon and formerly of Chickasha was one of two people killed in the accident near I-40 and Walker just after 5:00 p.m. Saturday. A Go Fund Me Account has been set up for Kylie's family. Funeral service has not yet been scheduled.

Chix City Manager is Moving On

Chickasha City Manager Keith Johnson is stepping down. Johnson, who has spent the last two years as city manager, has accepted a position with a  Benton County government office in Southeastern Washington State. Johnson said he will finish out the calendar year with the city and start his new job after the first of the year. The city council had just approved a raise for Johnson but he said his new employer made a generous offer he couldn't turn down. Mayor Zach Grayson said Johnson is a great leader and will be missed-

Grayson said the search for a new city manager will begin soon and will recommend the council use the same head-hunting firm that lead to Johnson's hiring.

Payment Plan Approved for New Chix Fire Trucks

The Chickasha Fire Department will be getting a couple of new fire trucks but it won't be anytime soon. Last night the city council approved the purchase of a 100-foot aerial ladder truck and an engine/pumper truck at a combined cost of more than $3 million. The council approved a financing plan with Liberty National Bank which offered a 4.75 percent interest rate. The trucks will not be delivered for at least three years - perhaps late in 2027 or early in 2028 - however the city will not have to make the first payment until the trucks are delivered.

City to seek bids for several projects

The council also approved going out for bids for repairs and upgrades for the municipal swimming pool and the splash pad at Shannon Springs Park, and also to go out for bids to design and build some new audio and visual components in the council chambers. Despite some recent improvements it is difficult to hear many of the conversations that take place during council meetings.

Homecoming parade, 5K run approved

The panel also approved the annual Chickasha High School Student Council Homecoming parade for Friday, Oct. 11th and the annual Chickasha Optimist Club Christmas Carroll Run on Saturday, Dec. 7th.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.71 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.28.

Natural gas is $2.37 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,601 and silver is $31.04.

Obituary

Crystal Gregory-Hare

Funeral service for Crystal Gregory-Hare, 43, of Ninnekah will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 19th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She worked for a trucking company.

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Monday, Sept. 16^th

Chix Schools Open Today After Weekend Threat

Chickasha schools are in session today after law enforcement investigated a threatening post on social media over the weekend. The Chickasha Police Department posted on its Facebook page that they were made aware of the threat and that investigators were working with school administrators and the Grady County Sheriff's Office to ensure that concerns were addressed appropriately.

Ninnekah Man Badly Burned in Maysville Explosion

A Ninnekah man was among the three workers injured in an explosion in Maysville last week. Justin Lee suffered severe burns and is being treated in an out-of-state hospital. A Go Fund Me account has been established to help the family. The Go Fund Me page says Justin suffered burns over most of his body and that his family is facing significant challenges and are seeking funds to pay for travel expenses. The post says that Justin has always been a loving and dedicated family member. More than 40 contributions have been made and they have already raised more than $4,000 of the $5,000 goal that was set.

Newcastle Driver Dies in OKC Accident

A Newcastle man died after two pickups collided in Oklahoma City over the weekend. 50-year old Clayton Pueppke died in the crash that happened about 10:00 a.m. on I-44 near Airport Road. It's not clear what happened as the highway patrol reported the accident was still under investigation. The driver of the other truck identified as 72- year old Jimmy Rayburn of Pauls Valley who was not injured.

Contractors to be Sought for Chix Pool, Splash Pad Upgrades

The Chickasha City Council will consider going out for bids to repair the municipal swimming pool and the splash pad at Shannon Springs Park when the panel meets tonight. For the pool, the panel will consider a renovation project that will include removing and replacing the inlet piping, replacing the acid pump, replacing all the electrical panels and wiring in the filter room; and cleaning, repairing, and painting all the safety rails. For the splash pad the work will include removing, replacing, and/or repairing splash pad elements including water control valves, underground water supply pipes, and spray features. These are two separate projects with the splash pad work being funded by a Healthy Incentive Program Grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Fund (TSET). There will be no pre-bid meeting for either project so contractors will need to contact the city's Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Winzenreid to schedule a walk-through. Bids are due Oct. 16^th and a bid could be awarded sometime in November. Officials say both projects must be completed by March 1st of next year or contractors will face a daily fine of $500 until the work is done.

Rush Springs Farm Grows State's Biggest Watermelon

A Rush Springs family can say they have grown the largest watermelon ever in Oklahoma. Bratcher Melons had the humongous melon at the State Fair of Oklahoma wieghing at 268 pounds! While Rush Springs is known as the Watermelon Capital of the World the town has never had the largest melon. Garrin Bratcher said they had three entries at the state fair this year and the big winner was called Dump Truck Donna. Bratcher Melons also had the largest melon at last month's Rush Springs Watermelon Festival. Garrin said he's happy with the record but now he'd like to grow a 300-pounder.

Grady County Ag Producers Meet Tomorrow

Grady County agriculture producers will be meeting tomorrow morning. Producers meet the first and third Tuesdays each month. The guest speaker will be OSU Extension Entomologist Jonathan Cammack. The program will get underway at 7:00 a.m. at the Grady County OSU Extension office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.00 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.88.

Natural gas is $2.29 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,612 and silver is $31.29.

Obituary

Winnie Smith

Funeral service for Winnie Smith, 92, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18th at the Plainview Mennonite Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Sept. 14th

DHS to End Program That Replaces Stolen Food Stamps

Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) are reaching out to families who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. They say that beginning Oct. 1^st the agency will no longer be able to replace stolen food stamps. Officials say they have had a federal grant that has been used to replace them but that program will be ending Sept. 30th.  DHS reports that more than 2,600 households had their food stamps stolen just in the last year and that some victims have lost as much as $1,000 in benefits. DHS officials say one way to help secure benefits is to use the Connect EBT app and to use a PIN number that would be difficult to figure out. Officials also say if families get a call from a number they don't recognize and the caller asks for personal information to simply hang up then call DHS to verify if it is the agency that's reaching out.

Turnpike Authority Warns of Scam

Here's another scam to be aware of. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) warns that scammers are sending text messages to potential victims saying they owe money for using the Turnpike Authority's Plate Pay system. The text message shows a Plate Pay logo and indicates that the individual has a small unpaid toll road invoice of $4.15. It says to avoid a late fee to settle the balance by going to a certain website. OTA officials say they have been hearing from customers over the last couple of days. Officials say the grammar in the statement is bad and that a dollar sign is on the wrong side of the number (i.e. 35.00$). The OTA urges Oklahomans to not fall for the scam. Officials have filed a complaint with the domestic registrar and were told it originated in Russia.

Bailey Turnpike Traffic to be Impacted by Repair Work

Here's a traffic advisory for motorists on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike that will be in effect Monday, Sept. 16^th. Eastbound traffic at mile marker 78 will be narrowed to one lane from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for surface repairs.

Talk Show Topic

Courtney Hill with Red Rock Behavioral Health Services will discuss the agency's recent expansion at its Chickasha office and 50 years of providing mental health services on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Sept. 13th

Anadarko Parents Accused of Child Neglect

A mother and father in Anadarko are arrested on complaints of child neglect.  Anadarko police were dispatched to the home of Frank and Lorretta Davis last week. They found poor living conditions with roaches crawling on the walls and mouse feces throughout the home. Anadarko Police Chief Erin Harlan told KFOR-TV how they notified of the terrible conditions.

Both parents are facing a single charge of child neglect. Initially, a judge set bond at $50,000 for both. Bond for Frank Davis was reduced to $20,000 and he is out of jail until his next court appearance. On-line court records indicate bond was not reduced for Lorretta Davis, and she remains in the Caddo County Jail. The couple is to be back in court Nov. 25th to announce their attorney with a preliminary hearing conference scheduled Dec. 5th.

Drug Agents Raid Cement Grow Operation

State drug agents seize thousands of marijuana plants in the Cement area they say were connected to black market drug trafficking.  KSWO-TV reports that the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs served a search warrant at an undisclosed location and seized more than 6,000 marijuana plants. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess says a few of his deputies assisted with carrying out the search warrant. It wasn't clear if there were any arrests. Officials say their investigation into this drug bust continues.

Second Friday Art Walk Tonight

It looks like it will be a warm evening for a stroll in Old Town Chickasha. The second Friday art walk will take place downtown. A number of artists will have their works on display. The art walk will take place along the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue starting about 5:00 p.m. and will run until 8:00 p.m. or so.

Hurricane Francine Impacts Energy Prices

Hurricane Francine unleashed its fury in the Gulf of Mexico recently which shut down much of the oil and gas production in that region.  Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission said  initially that sent oil and gas prices a bit higher-

Skinner said a new report shows a further slowing in the worldwide demand and that growth this year is far behind the average growth of 2023. Skinner said much of that is blamed on the economic slowdown in China.

Energy Prices

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.82 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.62.

Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,596 and silver is $30.41.

Obituary

Jimmy Kirk

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for Jimmy Kirk, 81, of Chickasha. He was a machinist and worked at Carl Built. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Sept. 12th

Traffic Stop Leads to Drug Trafficking Arrests

Two people are in custody after Minco police stop a pickup speeding through town. And the officer finds hundreds of fentanyl pills and other drugs.  A probable cause affidavit shows Sgt. Gregory Engel stopped the pick-up about 11:30 Monday night for going 85 mph in a 45-mile an hour zone. Engel saw a piece of burned foil in the truck and the driver told him he and a passenger used it to ingest fentanyl. The driver said Engel might find a small amount pills in the truck. But it was much more than just a few. Engel said he found nearly 600 fentanyl pills, 15 Xanax tablets, more than 15 grams of cocaine, and nearly 100 grams of meth. He also found numerous syringes and $1,000 in cash.  In custody are 37-year old Shon Yousif and 27-year old Elaine Evans, both of Oklahoma City. Both have been charged with three felonies including aggravated drug trafficking and intent to distribute. They each also face a misdemeanor for having drug items. Bond for Yousif was set at $250,000 and bond for Evans was set at $200,000. Both are to be back in court Sept. 25th for preliminary hearing conferences.

Chix Neighborhood to be Without Water Today

A Chickasha neighborhood will be without water service much of the day. City crews will be repairing a broken water line. Water service will be out from 6th Street to 12th Street and from Choctaw Avenue to Minnesota Avenue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Due to no water the Chickasha Public Schools Enrollment Center will be closed today however Chickasha schools are in session.

Chocolate Celebration Set for Anadarko Library

Everything will be coming up chocolate in Anadarko soon. The Anadarko Community Library will be hosting its annual chocolate celebration. The event is hosted by the Friends of the Anadarko Library and they are seeking table sponsors to provide a number of delectable chocolate goodies to share. In addition to individual chocolate servings, businesses, groups, and individuals will be providing cakes, pies, and platters of cookies and candy that will be auctioned. Groups interested in sponsoring a table can reach out to the Anadarko Community Library. Tickets to the event are now on sale at the library and from the Friends of the Library. They are $7 and ticket holders will select six servings of chocolate per ticket. The celebration is Tuesday, Oct. 1st at the library from 5:30 to 7 p.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.36 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.61

Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,544 and silver is $29.07.

Obituaries

Charlie Mae Fisher

Funeral service for Charlie Mae Fisher, 81, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14th at the Church of the Living God, PG of T. She worked in the aerospace industry. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Roy Carter

No service will be held for Roy Carter, 85, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, Sept. 11th

Authorities Identify Driver Who Died in June Crash

(EDITOR'S NOTE - This version is corrected from a previous story that contained wrong information about the date of the accident. We regret the error)

Authorities have identified the driver of a pickup who died in a traffic accident near Verden earlier this summer. The Highway Patrol reported that 22-year old Kobe Harris of Chickasha died in the crash that happened the night of June 22nd. The OHP said Harris' pickup ran off the road, hit a tree, and caught fire. The accident happened  northeast of Verden near CR 1310 and CS 2785. 

Suspect Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter

A Grady County man pleads guilty to manslaughter in connection with a fatal crash that happened more than three years ago. 24-year old Brian McConnell of Tuttle entered the plea in Grady County District Court on Monday. He waived his right to a jury trial last month. The accident happened in April of 2021 on SH 37 east of Minco. Artemio Moreno of Anadarko died in the crash. McConnell also pleaded guilty to a separate felony charge of leaving the scene of an injury accident in connection with an arrest in May of 2023. A judge sentenced McConnell to 25 years in prison on the manslaughter charge with 17 years' suspended. He was given a two-year sentence for the leaving the scene of an injury accident charge. That sentence will run consecutive to the manslaughter sentence meaning McConnell will serve 10 years behind bars.

Arrest Made after Illegal Grow Area Found Near School

Grady County deputies arrest a suspect for allegedly operating an illegal marijuana growing operation near a rural school.  61-year old David Gonzales of Pocasset was arrested over the weekend after the operation was found not far from the Pocasset Elementary School. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess said Gonzales was growing the illegal weed in his trailer. He said they found more than 100 plants. Gonzales has been charged with a felony drug charge with intent to distribute. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $10,000 bond. 

Emergency Repairs will Leave Neighborhood Without Water

A Chickasha neighborhood will be without water tomorrow as crews make emergency repairs to a water line. The affected area will be around the Washita Valley Community Action Council headquarters - from 6th Street to 10th Street and between Choctaw Avenue and Minnesota Avenue. Officials say the water will be out between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. tomorrow. A map is posted on the city's Facebook Page and we've posted one on our Facebook page as well. Officials say they have notified the Washita Valley Community Action Council about the outage.

Parks, Recreation Comments Sought for Onward Chickasha

The next phase of the Onward Chickasha survey is posted for public comment. This week it deals with Parks and Recreation and comments will be welcome through Sunday, Sept. 15th. You can access the survey by going to Onward Chickasha.org

Users do not have to create an account to review the survey and leave comments however they will be asked to provide a name and an e-mail address. Comments highlighted in the survey include developing and maintaining a system of parks, recreation facilities, and recreational programs which adequately serve community needs; ensure equitable distribution and convenient access to parks, trails, and recreational facilities; and to develop and maintain a trail system throughout the city that will serve as a recreational amenity, transportation facility, and tourist attraction.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.49 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $70.85.

Natural gas is $2.24 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,550 and silver is $29.09.

Obituaries

Peggy Huber

No service is scheduled for Peggy Huber, 63, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Francine Gardner

A private service will be held for Francine Gardner, 84, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Sept. 10th

City of Chix Gets Big Bucks for Easements

The City of Chickasha will get more than $300,000 from two sources – a telecommunications company and a utility - after the city council last week put its stamp of approval on their requests for easements. The Southwest Ledger reports that the city will get a lump sum of $315,000 from a company called TowerPoint which will assume T-Mobile's lease of space on the city's water tower on Country Club Road. TowerPoint is a telecommunications infrastructure and real estate investment company based in Atlanta, Georgia.  The council also accepted easement and right-of-way agreements with Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). The utility is preparing for a high-voltage transmission improvement project. PSO will pay the city $1,500 for supplemental easements on three small tracts of land. The utility already paid the city $7,000 last year for the rights-of-way to a couple of those tracts. The project calls for the reconstruction of nearly five miles of 138-kilovolt transmission line between the Cornville and Norge Road substations. That project is expected to take place next year.

Grady County Deputy Part of 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb

A Grady County deputy was among those taking part in the 13th annual Oklahoma City nine-eleven memorial stair climb. Deputy Jeffrey Radford was among dozens of first responders and others who took part in climbing the 110 stairs at Oklahoma Tower in Leadership Square in Oklahoma City Saturday. Radford has been with the sheriff's office for a couple of years and is the school resource officer at Tuttle public schools. The stair climb honors the first responders who died in the 9/11 attack that  rocked the country 23 years ago tomorrow.

Animal Shelter Offers Monthly Spay-Neuter Clinics for Pets

The Chickasha Animal Shelter is looking to get the word out about the monthly spay-and-neuter clinics it offers. The service is offered on two different dates. Early in the month animals are taken to OK Humane in Oklahoma City and are returned home the same day. Later in the month the clinic is held at the animal shelter where veterinarians come to Chickasha with a mobile clinic to perform the surgeries. They also offer vaccines by appointment on that day. The shelter is already booked for the spay-and-neuter clinics for September. The next available clinic in Oklahoma City is Oct. 2^nd and the next date for the clinic at the animal shelter is Oct. 24th. Call the shelter at 405-222-6093 and leave a message. You can also schedule appointments by going to the Chickasha Animal Shelter Facebook page and click on the link provided.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.78 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $70.97.

Natural gas is $2.16 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,535 and silver is $28.77.

Obituaries

Violet Hammond

A memorial service for Violet Hammond, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14th at College Heights Baptist Church. She worked for the state department of corrections. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Dortha Eubank

A private service will be held for Dortha Eubank, 94, of Edmond and formerly of Chickasha. She worked at Southwestern Bell and was a homemaker. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

'Little James' Johnson, Jr.

Funeral service for James 'Little James' Johnson, Jr. 67, of Cache is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Monday, Sept. 9th

USAO Enrollment Increases

There are a lot more students attending USAO this year. Enrollment numbers are at their highest levels in more than a decade. USAO president Kayla Hale-

Hale says the growth presents a problem because the university is running out of space to house students and that some are staying at a local motel. She said she'll be asking regents this week to start looking for a contractor to renovate Willard Hall.

Chix School Board to Consider Parents Bill of Rights Update

A revision in the Chickasha school district's Parents Bill of Rights is among the items to be considered by the Chickasha Schools Board of Education tonight. It would add language about the definition of an independent contractor who would not be an employee of the district but could be an individual, organization or entity engaged by and/or, contracted by the district. The contractor would provide direct or indirect services to students on a temporary or contractual basis. The change is recommended by the district's legal team based on new legislation. The panel is also to consider renewing an agreement with Washita Valley Community Action Council to furnish food for the schools, and revising the co-op math and science agreement with Canadian Valley Technology Center.  Chicken Express Employees of the Month to be recognized are from the Lincoln School Intermediate Center. They are teacher Dominique Golightly and support employee Jill Euwins. The meeting will be held at 6:00 p.m. tonight at the school administration building.

Fundraisers to be Considered by Anadarko School Board

The Anadarko school board also meets tonight. That panel will consider approving fund raisers for the high school student council, the junior and sophomore classes, the girls basketball and tennis teams, yearbook class, FFA, and the middle school library. The group will also consider approving an overnight trip for the FFA to attend the Tulsa State Fair. That meeting is at 6:00 p.m. tonight at the Anadarko schools administration office.

Rollover Crash Closes Intersection

State troopers were summoned to a rollover accident near the Tuttle area yesterday. The accident happened about 3:15 p.m. near the intersection of CS 2910 and CR 1210 about three miles south of Tuttle. The roadway was shut down for a little over an hour. No details were released.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.40 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.80.

Natural gas is $2.20 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,526 and silver is $28.51.

Obituaries

Thomas Harris

Funeral service for Thomas Harris, 68, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10th at the Cement School Auditorium. He was a Marine Corps veteran and worked in the energy industry. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Treva Hamilton

A memorial service for Treva Hamilton, 34, will be held at noon Wednesday, Sept. 11th at Hope Tabernacle. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Sept. 7th

Effort Continues to Clean Up Abandoned Oil, Gas Wells

A new report shows that hundreds of abandoned oil and gas wells throughout the state have been environmentally restored. The Oklahoma Energy Resources Board (OERB) says more than 1,100 of the sites were restored over the last year. Funding for the clean-up comes from contributions from numerous energy industry partners including energy companies and royalty owners. In its annual report the OERB indicates that nearly $12 million was spent to restore those locations. Since the start of the program several years ago, OERB reports contributors have provided more than $160 million to restore nearly 21,000 sites. In addition to restoring abandoned energy fields OERB also promotes energy education. Over the past year the group helped nearly 1,200 teachers and provided nearly $2.6 million for their work in the classroom.

Wildlife Refuge to Host Elk Bugling Tours

Over the next few weeks the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will hold its annual Bugling Elk tours. The tours go through its Special Use Area during the peak of the elk mating season. The bull elk produces a high-pitched whistling sound. The tours will be held on Saturday and Sunday evenings through Oct. 26th. Early morning tours will be held Sept. 21st and Oct. 5th. The tours are conducted by the Friends of the Wichitas. They are free and last about three hours. Reservations are required and they'll be taken on a first-come, first-served basis starting on Monday. For information check out the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge website.

Talk Show Topic

Chris Wittenbach with the City of Blanchard's Parks and Recreation Department is on the KOOL Konversation discussing a number of upcoming events for that community. Find a podcast of the program on this website under the Community tab.

Obituaries

Thomas Harris

Funeral service for Thomas Harris, 68, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10th at the Cement School Auditorium. He was a Marine Corps veteran and worked in the energy industry. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Treva Hamilton

A memorial service for Treva Hamilton, 34, will be held at 12:00 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11th at Hope Tabernacle. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Friday, Sept. 6th

Motorcycle Rider Stable After Crash

(EDITOR'S NOTE - This version is corrected from an earlier story which had some erronious information. We regret the error.)

A motorcycle rider was hospitalized after crashing his bike in a Chickasha neighborhood. 27-year old Brett Stone of Chickasha was last in stable condition after being air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. Chickasha police were dispatched to 18th and Idaho Avenue about 2:30 yesterday afternoon. Peggy Young tells KOOL/RANCH news that she witnessed the crash. She said she was stopped at a stop sign when for an unkown reason Stone laid down his motorcycle down on the street. Police said he was not wearing a helmet. 

Dilapidated Boat Docks to be Removed from Lake Chickasha

Chickasha officials look to make Lake Chickasha safer by removing old boat docks that are in disrepair. The city council this week approved a bid from a Gracemont company called Slemp Welding Power Evacuation to remove more than a dozen docks. Officials saying most of them are submerged and a danger to boaters and swimmers. The bid of nearly $50,000 was the lowest of seven bids submitted. The high bid was more than $89,000. Parks and Recreation Department Director Spenser Winzenreid indicated the company could have all the docks removed by the end of the year.

Marlow Company Among Fastest-Growing in the Country

A Marlow company is named one of the fastest-growing private firms in the country. Philtek Services is in the top 25 percent of the list of the 5,000 firms put together by Inc. Magazine. The firm was also recognized as the 4th fastest growing company in Oklahoma with a more than 400 percent growth rate. Philtek was founded in 2013 and is a support personnel firm that provides employees for industrial fabrication and manufacturing facilities across the country. The company has more than 100 employees working in Oklahoma and eight other states. Founder and President Brad Boles said he has a great team committed to provide the best service for their customers and they look forward to building on the momentum the recognition brings.

Cement to Host Annual Jesse James Festival

The Town of Cement will hold its annual Jesse James Festival tomorrow. The infamous outlaw is said to have spent some time in the area in the early 1900s. The Oklahoma Historical Society says that according to legend the Jesse James gang left some of its loot at Buzzard's Roost just east of Cement and some say his brother Frank lived in Cement before building a house near Fletcher. The Cement Historical Museum features a Jesse James Visitors Center. There is entertainment throughout the day starting at 10:00 a.m. including live music, food trucks, vendors, and a mock gunfight. The festival will end with a street dance tomorrow night.

Cattle Producers Seeking Carcass Contest Entries

The Grady County Cattle Producers are now taking entries for the group's annual carcass contest. It's open to children and grandchildren of the organizations members (children ages 9-18). The youth will care for a steer for about six months and will compete next spring for cash awards for best carcass, best weight gain, and best interview. Only 25 spots are available. Entries will be taken until Oct. 15th. For information contact Grady County Cattle Producers President Jake Grossnicklaus or Kelly Burrows at the OSU Extension Office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.59 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.18.

Natural gas is $2.29 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,546 and silver is $29.17.

Obituary

Wanda Wright

Funeral service for Wanda Wright, 90, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7^th at Sevier Funeral Home. She worked in the kitchen for Chickasha Public Schools for nearly 35 years.

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Thursday, Sept. 5th

Bids Sought for Chix Water Line Project

The Chickasha City Council this week gave its approval to have the public works department seek bids to install a waterline at Ada Sipuel Avenue along the Union Pacific Railroad. The project calls for installing more than 1,000 linear-feet of 16- and 24-inch waterline. A mandatory pre-bid meeting is set for Wednesday, Oct. 2nd and sealed bids are to be submitted to city hall by October 10^th at 1:30 p.m. with the bids to be opened that afternoon. A contractor could be recommended to the council at its Oct. 21st meeting. The project may not start until after the first of the year.

Anadarko Veteran Says He Did Nothing Wrong

After Being Charged in Connection with Jan. 6th Riot

An Anadarko Army veteran charged in connection with the Jan. 6^th incident in Washington, D.C. says he did nothing wrong. Darrin Bradley is the 12th Oklahoman charged as a result of the mayhem that took place inside the U.S. Capitol that day. Bradley told the Oklahoman that he was there supporting former President Donald Trump and that he didn't break anything or hurt anybody. The Oklahoman reported that the FBI alleges Bradley entered the Parliamentary doors of the Capitol a few minutes after rioters breached that entrance and that he was part of a group that overtook at least one police line. Bradley told the Oklahoman he blames Antifa activists posing as Trump supporters for the violence that took place.  Bradley is facing four misdemeanor charges in federal court in Washington, D.C.

City of Chickasha Sets Clean-up Days

Chickasha residents will have an opportunity to get rid of unwanted items - including hazardous chemicals and items - during a fall clean-up campaign next month.  During this week's city council meeting the panel authorized the clean-up for Oct. 16th through 19th. Household waste and limbs can be taken to the public works headquarters on North Genenvieve all four days. Officials say individuals have been asking for a hazardous waste collection for several years. That will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19^th where residents can drop off pesticides, chemicals, herbicides, batteries, aerosols, used motor oil, light bulbs, and non-latex paint. Items that won't be taken include electronics like televisions, computers, and smoke detectors, and no pharmaceutical waste will be taken. Residents will need to show a current utility bill. The council approved an agreement with a company called Environmental Management to collect the hazardous items. The city will pay the firm nearly $39,000 and the Department of Environmental Quality will provide the city with a $30,000 grant to help with the cost.

Chix Chamber Names New Membership Director

The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce has a new staffer. Maddy Mosley is the chamber's new membership director. She is a Chickasha native, a graduate of Chickasha High school, and earned a bachelor's degree at USAO. She has worked in the health care field and as a real estate agent with Century 21 Mosley. Chamber President Jim Cowan said Mosley will be responsible for recruiting new chamber members and enhancing member engagement. Mosley assumes the role previously held by Whitney Palesano who was recently named the director of alumni relations at USAO.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.25.

Natural gas is $2.15 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,545 and silver is $29.05.

Obituaries

Charlotte Cook

A graveside service for Charlotte Cook, 74, of Tuttle will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6th at Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. She was a homemaker. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

Alvin Dickson, Sr.

Funeral service for Alvin Dickson, Sr., 52, of Hollis will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7th at Calvary Community Church in Hollis. He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant, a restaurant manager, and a roofer. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, Sept. 4th

TIF Districts Get Slim Approval by City Council

In a 5-4 vote the Chickasha City Council approves the creation of two Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts in last night's meeting. The vote came after about 90 minutes of discussion as property owners George and Bertha Thomas and Bud and Liz Lowe asked to have their properties removed from one of the districts. Bertha Thomas said the document creating the districts had false statements-

She also said officials may have violated state law.

Jim Cowan with the Economic Development Council was the only person in the audience to speak in favor of the issue-

The 5-4 vote came in an usual way. Normally, the mayor is the final person to vote on any proposal and would break a 4-4 tie. However, Councilman Oscar Nelson was inadvertently skipped when it was his turn to vote and Mayor Zach Grayson's yes vote made it a 4-4 tie. After several seconds of silence Nelson also voted yes to approve the issue.

City manager receives pay hike

Also in last night's council meeting the panel went behind closed doors to evaluate the performance of City Manager Keith Johnson. After a nearly two-hour executive session the panel unanimously approved a five percent pay increase and car allowance to go into effect in the next pay cycle.

New fire trucks to be purchased

The panel also approved the purchase of two new fire trucks with a combined cost of more than $3.1 million. It will be three years before the fire trucks will be delivered. The funds will come from a voter-approved sales tax increase for capital improvements. The council also gave the city manager approval to negotiate a contract with a firm to seek funding for a flood mitigation initiative based on a drainage study done three years ago.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $69.91 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.31.

Natural gas is $2.19 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,514 and silver is $28.32.

Obituaries

Carol Cofer

Funeral service for Carol Cofer, 82, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She worked at Pet Milk and she and her husband Donnie owned and operated Cofer and Sons Furniture Store.

Jo Ann Hoffman

Funeral service for Jo Ann Hoffman, 94, will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5th at Sevier Funeral Home. She and her husband Henry started Hoffman Trucking Company and several other businesses. She also worked at Southwestern Bell.

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Tuesday, Sept. 3rd

TIF District Decision Expected 

A final decision regarding a plan to create two Tax Increment Finance ( TIF) districts is expected to be made by the Chickasha City Council tonight.  The proposal is part of an overall Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Plan which has been in discussion for several months. The plan has been reviewed in public hearings over the last few weeks with the council hearing opinions both for and against the TIFs.

Fire truck purchases also to be reviewed

The council will also consider spending more than $3 million to purchase two new fire trucks. One is a 100-foot aerial ladder truck and the other is an engine/pumper truck. Fire Chief Tony Samaniego is recommending the trucks be purchased from Sutphen and Heartland Fire Trucks. He said if the buys are approved it would be up to three years before the trucks would be delivered and payment wouldn't start until a year after that. The funds for the fire trucks are coming from a capital improvement sales tax approved by voters.

Flood project consultant recommended

The panel will also consider negotiating a contract with a company to help secure grants for a flood mitigation program. Officials say it is a follow-up to a drainage study done in 2021. The primary goal would be to secure federal funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) that may cover most of the project costs. The company recommended to help with that effort is Meshek and Associates which was one of three companies submitting proposals.

Emergency sewer line repairs requested

The council will also consider declaring an emergency for repairs on a ruptured sewer line in the 400 block of Colorado Avenue and will have a closed-door meeting to evaluate the work of City Manager Keith Johnson. The city council meets tonight at 6:30 at city hall.

CV Tech Offers Variety of Programs

Canadian Valley Technology Center provides training in a number of fields to get students ready to enter the work force. Precision machining, nursing, and child care are among them. But CV Tech also offers short-term programs for adults looking to learn the basics of home fix-it-up projects.  Scott Smith is among those with the Adult Career and Community Development Program.

CV Tech also offers courses for writers to help them publish and market their books, yoga, quilting, and even guitar and ukulele.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.43 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.80.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,527 and silver is $28.71.

Obituaries

Alvin Dickson

Funeral service for Alvin Dickson, 52, is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Charlie Mae Fisher

Funeral service for Charlie Mae Fisher, 81, is also pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Shirley Lee

Funeral service for Shirley Lee, 78, of Chickasha is pending with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Monday, Sept. 2nd

No news due to the Labor Day holiday.

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Saturday, Aug. 31st

Jury Finds Chickasha Man Guilty of Manslaughter

A Grady County jury convicts a driver of manslaughter. The six-man, six-woman jury found 26-year old Bradley Teakell guilty of second degree manslaughter following a four-day trial in Grady County District Court this week. Teakell was initially charged with first degree manslaughter but the jury found him not guilty on that charge. The panel also found him not guilty of felony DUI in a crash causing great bodily injury. The jury deliberated about four hours before issuing its verdict Thursday evening.

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The accident happened in May of 2020. Chickasha police say Teakell was speeding when his pickup went airborne after going over some railroad tracks, hit a utility pole, and rolled several times. Killed in the crash was 30-year old Jordan Jacobs. Another passenger, Mary Martin, was seriously injured. Defense attorney Bret Burns told KOOL/RANCH News that Teakell testified and took responsibility. Burns said the three friends had been drinking at a bar prior to the crash. Burns also said that Martin testified that she didn't want Teakell prosecuted. The jury recommended a four-year prison sentence. Formal sentencing is set for Nov. 26th.

Grady County Court Clerk Lisa Hannah Retires

Long-time Grady County Court Clerk Lisa Hannah has retired. Hannah spent 40 years in the office with the last ten as court clerk. She was appointed to the leadership role in 2014 after previous court clerk Lois Foster retired.  Next week, Grady County  Commissioners will consider appointing first deputy Lisa Hackney-Smith to fill the remaining four months of Hannah's term which ends December 31st. Hackney-Smith is the  court clerk-elect as she won the post in the June primary election.

TIF District Decision Expected Next Week

The Chickasha City Council will debate the pros and cons of the proposed Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts and vote on the proposal next week. The council normally meets the first Monday of each month but since city hall will be closed for the Labor Day holiday the meeting will be Tuesday night. The panel has held two public hearings on the so-called Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Plan over the last month with the council getting feedback from individuals both supporting and protesting the plan. A review committee formed to take a look and the proposal and the city's planning commission have both recommended the city adopt the plan.

Obituary

Michael Wilson

A celebration of life for Michael Wilson, 70, of Chickasha will be held at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7^th at 1321 S. 12th Street. Memorial contributions may be made to programs that support wounded veterans. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Friday, Aug. 30th

Ag Community Mourns Passing of Ralph Morgan

Long-time rancher, businessman, and public servant Ralph Morgan has died.  Morgan was 85 when he passed away Tuesday.  Born in San Fernando, California in 1939, the family moved to the Ninnekah area where Ralph became active in FFA. He won the Governor's Trophy for Outstanding FFA member of Oklahoma and earned Star Farmer recognition. He owned and operated Morgan Cattle Company and was a public servant which included earning a state environmental stewardship award. He served on the Grady County Conservation Board for three decades; was on the Ninnekah school board, the Ninnekah Rural Water District board, Grady County Cattlemen's Association, the Grady County Fair Board, and the junior livestock show committee. He also was a director at First National Bank for nearly 20 years. Ralph is survived by his wife Evelyn, son Jimmy and his wife Alicia, and daughter Kristy. Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3rd at Bible Baptist Church.  Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Recount Ordered in Republican State House Run-Off Election

A recount has been ordered in a Republican run-off for the state house of representatives. It's in House District 20 which serves parts of McClain and Cleveland County where Jonathan Wilk of Goldsby received just two more votes that Mike Whaley of Blanchard. Whaley filed a petition with the state election board asking for the recount. It's not clear when the recount will take place. They'll manually tabulate more than 3,300 ballots. The winner will go on to face Democrat Jacob Mitchell of Newcastle in November.

Mayor's Blues Ball Begins in Medicine Park Tonight

One of the regional events taking place this Labor Day Weekend is the Medicine Park Mayor's Blues Ball. Many state and regional blues bands will be performing. Leading things off tonight will be Sweet Brenda and Sour Mash. Also playing this weekend is Malford Milligan and Tin Cadillac. Milligan is an eight-time best-vocalist winner at the Austin Music Awards. It's a free event and officials say it is kid and pet-friendly. There will be food trucks and its recommended you take lawn chairs and blankets. The music starts at 7 o'clock tonight and runs through Sunday. Concerts are slated for the outdoor Town Center Main Stage. If it rains, they'll move the event down the street to town's historic music hall. Check out the Medicine Park Blues Festival Facebook page.

Wichita and Affiliated Tribes to Begin Alzheimer's Support Group

A new support group will soon begin to help Native American families caring for relatives with Alzheimer's disease. The Wichita and Affiliated Tribes will start the program Wednesday, Sept. 4th. Diane Hugar is a dementia care specialist who will lead the meetings to be held the first Wednesday of each month and are currently scheduled through Jan. 4th. The meetings will be held at the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes complex north of Anadarko starting at 1:00 p.m. and last about an hour. For information contact Hugar by calling 405-247-8677.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.39 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.94.

Natural gas is $2.13 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,553 and silver is $29.88.

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Thursday, Aug. 29th

Consumer Spending Drops in Grady County

Consumer spending hit the brakes in Grady County just before summer began. It's estimated that spending dropped more than 13 percent from the mid-April-to-mid-May period and the mid-May-to-mid-June time period. Using sales tax revenues from the state tax commission it can be determined that consumers spent $80 million on taxable goods and services at Grady County retail outlets. That was down from more than $92 million in the previous 30-day period.  It is off 17 percent compared to the same time last year. The month-to-month drop in spending wasn't that noticeable in the City of Chickasha, where spending was off just a couple of percentage points. Estimated consumer spending in Chickasha was a little more than $30 million. However that number is down almost 20 percent compared to the same time a year ago.

Sales Tax Numbers

Checking sales tax revenues, Grady County received $607,000 from the mid-May-to-mid-June time period which is down from $691,000 collected from the previous 30-day period, and down from $726,000 from the same time a year ago. Chickasha's sales tax revenues for the mid-May-to-mid-July time frame were $1.3 million. That's about the same as the previous period but down about 7 percent compared to the same time in 2023.

No More State Sales Tax Charged on Groceries

The state sales tax on groceries is now off the books. Today marks the first day for the tax break to be in effect. State Senator Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) says it will bring immediate tax relief to Oklahomans. In a prepared statement he said the tax break is not just about saving money. He said it's also about helping families put more food on the table and making Oklahoma a more affordable place to live. It's expected to save Oklahoma households several hundred dollars a year.

Suspected Drug Trafficker Arrested

Law enforcement agents raid an Anadarko home and find a stash of drugs. The District Six Drug Task Force, Anadarko Police, and Caddo County sheriff's deputies combined efforts to serve a search warrant at a home in the 400 block of West Florida last Friday. A post on the Anadarko Police Department's Facebook page says they found more than a pound of meth and a couple of weapons. Authorities arrested 66-year old George DeWayne Phillips on drug and weapons complaints. Prosecutors have charged him with drug trafficking and having a firearm after a prior felony conviction. Phillips' bond was set at $50,000 and a preliminary hearing conference has been set for Oct. 11th.

USAO Meet-and-Greet Event Tonight Open to the Public

With USAO students back on campus there will be a big event in downtown Chickasha tonight to welcome them. The university is hosting a Street-and-Greet with a number of vendors setting up to show students a sampling of what there is to see and do. A lot of community resource agencies will be on hand to share information on how they can help students. It will be in the 200 block of Chickasha Avenue and will include food trucks, special events, live music, and the USAO Art Wrecker Studio will be open. The event is free and open to the public tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.59 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.64.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,556 and silver is $30.01.

Obituaries

Adella Ortiz

Funeral service for Adella Ortiz, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31st at The Christian Center. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Stacy Mink

Funeral service for Stacy Mink, 55, of Ketchum and formerly of Cement will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3rd at the Cyril Assembly of God  Church. He worked in the oilfield. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Ralph Morgan

Funeral service for Ralph Morgan, 85, of Ninnekah with be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3rd at Bible Baptist Church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, Aug. 28th

New Grady County Commissioner Elected

Voters in the central part of Grady County elect a new county commissioner. Ruth Bingham defeated incumbent Kirk Painter in the Republican run-off for District 2 Commissioner in yesterday's election. Bingham won by more than 100 votes - 615 to 500 - collecting 55 percent of the vote. Painter was looking to win a third consecutive term in office. Bingham said she appreciates the opportunity to serve.

Bingham ran on a platform that included following policies and procedures if elected, which she said hadn't been done in the last couple of years. She also said she hopes to make the work of county commissioners more transparent. Bingham will be the first woman to serve as a Grady County commissioner when she takes office Jan. 2nd.

Special School Bond Elections

For the second time in two years, Blanchard school district voters turned down a more than $66 million bond proposal. The vote was split nearly 50-50 which was well short of the 60 percent super majority needed for passage. The district had proposed building some safe rooms and a new fieldhouse for football and new soccer programs. Funds also would have been used to move the baseball and softball fields to the high school campus and to purchase land to build a new school.

Lindsay voters OK Two Bond Proposals

Voters in the Lindsay school district approved two propositions totaling nearly $12.3 million. Proposition One passed with 64 percent approval, 398 to 223.  Proposition two received nearly 75 percent approval, 462 to 161.

Marlow Bond Narrowly Fails

In Marlow, a transportation bond issue to buy new school buses failed by just four votes. The tally was 419 to 286 but it needed 423 votes to get the 60 percent super majority needed to pass.

Hinton Voters Say No

In Hinton, voters turned away a nearly $24 million bond issue for the school district. The vote was evenly divided with 316 for the bond and 312 against it. But it also fell way short of the 60 percent super majority needed to pass.

Ft. Cobb Burglary Suspect Formally Charged

A suspect arrested in connection with some Caddo County thefts has been charged with grand larceny, burglary, and conspiracy. 46-year old Jeffery Lee Jones - who lists a Chickasha address - was taken into custody by Caddo County deputies last week for alleged thefts in the Ft. Cobb area. Jones was charged with five felonies in his initial appearance on the charges in Caddo County District Court on Monday. He's also facing a misdemeanor drug charge. His bond was set at more than $22,000 and he is to be back in court Oct. 21st for a preliminary hearing conference.

Contractor Accused of Fraud in Several Counties

The state attorney general (AG) has filed charges against a contractor who cheated customers out of thousands of dollars with one of the victims being in Grady County. The AG has charged Paris Bilbro of Oklahoma City and his company AMG Construction Group for allegedly defrauding clients. The AG's office said Bilbro accepted nearly $40,000 in advance payments from clients in Tuttle, Lawton, and McLoud for roof repairs but did not perform any work. Bilbro is facing three counts of embezzlement and one count of having a pattern of criminal offenses. Anyone who believes they may also have been victimized by Bilbro is asked to reach out to the Consumer Protection Unit of the attorney general's office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.68 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.74.

Natural gas is $1.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,544 and silver is $30.01.

Obituary

Lucille Nelson

Funeral service for Lucille Nelson, 101, of Verden will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 31st at the Verden First Baptist Church. She was a home economics teacher for the Home Demonstration Agency and worked on the family farm. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Aug. 27th

Run-Off Elections, School Bond Issues Being Decided Today

There are a few special elections scattered throughout the state today. Polls are just opening for some primary run-off elections and some special school bond elections. In Grady County, there is a Republican run-off for District Two Grady County Commissioner. Two-term incumbent Kirk Painter is facing challenger Ruth Bingham. In a three-person race in the June primary election, Bingham received 16 more votes than Painter but not the majority needed to win. Painter has been under fire this summer for allegedly violating the state open meetings act with District 3 commissioner Gary Bray. Painter also made a statement during a county commissioners meeting that he discriminated against Democrats. Bingham has worked at the county treasurer's office for several years. No Democrats filed for the post so the winner of today's election will be sworn in to office in January.

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Several school districts have special bond elections today. Blanchard school district voters will decide a more than $66 million proposal that would fund a number of school improvements to include safe rooms, building a new fieldhouse to add soccer programs, moving the baseball and softball fields to the high school, and to purchase land to build a new school.  Lindsay has two proposals totaling about $12.3 million; Marlow has a transportation bond issue to buy new buses; and the Hinton school district has a nearly $24 million proposal on the ballot. Polls are open until 7 o'clock tonight.

Grady County Sheriff Warns of Phone Scam

Scammers are at work in the area again. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess says individuals are calling residents and telling them they failed to show up for jury duty and a warrant has been issued for their arrest. They are telling potential victims to pay a fee to keep from being taken into custody. Boggess said the sheriff's office will not call and ask for any payment or personal information over the phone. Boggess says anyone who receives such a call should just hang up.

Jury Selection Underway in Manslaughter Trial

Jury selection is underway in Grady County District Court for a Chickasha man charged with manslaughter. 26-year old Bradley Teakell was arrested in May of 2020 in connection with a crash that resulted in the death of passenger in his pickup. KSWO-TV cites court documents saying Teakell was driving at a high rate of speed when his pickup vaulted over some railroad tracks, hit a lamp post, and rolled several times. Killed in the crash was 30-year old Jordan Jacobs. Teakell is charged with manslaughter and DUI with a blood alcohol content of .08 or more.

Dentist George Williams Dies

Longtime Chickasha dentist Dr. George Williams, III has died. Williams was 77 when he passed away on Saturday. While in dental school he served in the U.S. Navy Reserves Dental Corps, had a brief stint in the Marines then joined the Air Force and later the Air Force Reserves. He spent more than 20 years' combined active- and reserve-duty service. Funeral for Dr. Williams will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.63 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $80.70.

Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,544 and silver is $30.35.

Other Obituaries

Sharlene Pearson

No service is scheduled for Sharlene Pearson, 67, of Alex. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Daryl Halbert

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for Daryl Halbert, 54, of Chickasha. He was a mechanic. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Steve Burton, Sr.

A memorial service for Steve Burton, Sr., 64, of Alex will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29th at Southern Baptist Church in Alex. He was a farmer and rancher. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Nolan Boudreaux, Jr.

Funeral for Nolan Boudreaux, Jr., 80, of Guthrie and formerly of Alex will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a long-time mechanic for the Edmond Fire Department. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Burn Centers for Children.

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Monday, Aug. 26th

Chix Community Survey Continues Seeking Comments

The Onward Chickasha community development project is now seeking input on the next area of its survey. This week it is the economy and downtown which is one of several segments included in a comprehensive plan to get ideas on how the city should be developed over the next 30 years. Last week's segment was housing and neighborhoods. Individuals can go to the website: www.onwardchickasha.org to review the suggestions and leave comments. The final draft of the survey will be given to the city council for consideration at a later date.

Recall Petitions in Anadarko Lead to Special City Council Election

The City of Anadarko will have a special election this fall to elect a mayor and city council representative. Petitions to recall Mayor Kelley McGlothlin and Ward 2 Councilman Patrick Redbird were filed earlier this summer. The petitions filed by John McCasland alleged that McGlothlin abused her mayoral powers; failed to conduct lawful meetings; failed to record executive sessions as required by law; and that she personally profited from her role as interim city manager by delaying the hiring of a permanent manager. It is also alleged that she attacked the character and reputation of one of the city manager candidates. In a response, McGlothlin denied the accusations. Regarding Councilman Redbird the petition alleged that he also abused his powers in office; made false racial statements against the Anadarko Fire Department; and also failed to conduct lawful meetings and record executive sessions. Redbird also denied the allegations in his response to the petition. In last week's filing period for the special election, both McGlothlin and Redbird filed for their respective seats on the council. Also filing for mayor are McCasland and Patrick Michael Hayes. Redbird did not draw an opponent. There is a two-day period for candidates to withdraw or for any protests to be filed against the candidates. That protest period is today and tomorrow. The special election for the posts will be held Nov. 5th.

Blood Donors to Get Added Bonus This Week

The call is out for blood donors to help the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) keep their shelves full for the upcoming Labor Day Weekend. And there's an added incentive for donors this week. Normally donors can pick up a t-shirt when they give blood but this week donors will get two t-shirts. Donors will receive a 'Bigfoot Returns' and a glow-in-the-dark 'People-Juice' t-shirt. They will be available at any mobile blood drive or OBI donor center. That includes the community blood drive at the Blanchard library Wednesday, Aug. 28th from 1:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. There are two blood drives in Chickasha on Saturday, Aug. 31^st. First at Starbucks from 8:00 a.m. to noon, then at Morris Motorsports from 2:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Find a blood drive in your area by visiting the blood institute's website: www.obi.org

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.88.

Natural gas is $1.95 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,559 and silver is $30.59.

Obituaries

James 'Jim' Johns

Funeral service for Jim Johns, 89, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27th at Bible Baptist Church. He was a manager at Dunn's Food Center for more than 20 years and was a master craftsman in woodworking.  Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Judy Nelson

Funeral service for Judy Nelson, 60, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28th at Bible Baptist Church. She helped to start Chickasha Industrial and Welding. As a freshman at Chickasha High School she set a state record in track in the one mile-run and is in the Chickasha High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Aug. 24th

State Reps: State Education Department 'Dropped the Ball'

Regarding  Notification of Changes of State Testing Methods

A report from the state department of education indicated that proficiency rates for Oklahoma school students had increased last school year. But State Rep. Dick Lowe of Amber is among those who say a change in how state academic tests were scored cannot be compared to scores from the previous year. In a joint media statement, Lowe and State Rep. Mark McBride of Moore say that the change in the scoring method was not 'communicated' to educators, parents, nor the public. Lowe and McBride are the top two members of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education. They say state education leaders dropped the ball on telling anyone about the revision. They said the report left districts shocked and surprised and that it puts a false narrative out there. The lawmakers said while they don't want to diminish the work of state educators, the truth must be told. Lowe and McBride said they are seeking guidance to explain how to interpret the test scores and share that information with school administrators, who can then share the information with parents and education stakeholders.  McBride said had the state department of education done its job to discuss details of the new scoring system before the results were released, there wouldn't have been a misunderstanding. McBride said he can only hope education department officials do better in the future.

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Ft. Cobb-area Thefts

Caddo County authorities have made an arrest in connection with some recent burglaries and thefts in the Ft. Cobb area. A post on the Caddo County Sheriff's Office Facebook page indicates that a search warrant was issued at a home early Friday morning as a result of a recent investigation. Deputies arrested Jeffrey Lee Jones on complaints of knowingly concealing stolen property and drug possession. The post says that the sheriff's office has a new investigator whose primary focus is on property crimes. Authorities say residents can help by going to sheriff's office website to leave tips: www.caddocountysheriff.com

Grady County Fair Concludes Today

Today is day third and final day of the 109th Grady County Fair. It started this morning with the 4H and FFA tractor driving contest; the swine, rabbit, and poultry shows; and the commercial vendors opening at 9:00 a.m. Afternoon events include the FFA Olympics, the mullet contest, the pet show, and the dairy and beef cattle shows later this afternoon. The kiddie tractor pull will be at 6 o'clock tonight. The carnival opened at noon, and the American Rodeo Qualifier will finish things off at 8 o'clock tonight. After the rodeo country music recording artist Rodger Craeger will perform.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. On the KOOL Konversation is Chickasha Fire Chief Tony Samaniego to give details about the Citizens Fire Academy that will be held this fall. Find a podcast under the Community tab on this website.

Obituary

James 'Jim' Johns

Funeral service for Jim Johns, 89, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27th at Bible Baptist Church. He was a manager at Dunn's Food Center for more than 20 years and was a master craftsman in woodworking. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Friday, Aug. 23rd

Chix Fire Department to Hold Citizens Academy

A first-of-its-kind program to give Chickasha residents the chance to see what firefighters do on a daily basis will be coming up this fall. The Chickasha Fire Department will have a Citizens Fire Academy. It's a six-week program that will include hands-on activities and guest speakers. Fire Chief Tony Samaniego says it's important that citizens understand the challenges that firefighters face. His hope is that at the end of the program individuals will have a clearer view of day-to-day fire operations and gain a better understanding of the services that firefighters and paramedics offer. The academy will be held on Tuesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. beginning Oct. 8th and running through Nov. 12th. There is no charge to attend. Applications are being accepted through Sept. 6th and are available on-line at: www.chickasha.org/CFDCitizens

Applicants will be notified by Sept. 13th if they are selected.

County Fair Queen Named

A Chickasha teen will reign over the Grady County Fair. Makayla Morris was named fair princess during opening ceremonies last night. Erin Guyton of Minco was named Miss Congeniality and Madison Dunn of Rush Springs was named Miss Photogenic. The Little Miss winner was Madison Eitland of Tuttle. Top placers in the cake contest in the senior division went to Patty Ennen as her dark butter chocolate cake was named grand champion; and Rosalie Bush was reserve grand with her dark butter Red Velvet cake. In the junior division, Claire Jansen had the grand champion with a fresh strawberry cake and Emma Riley had the reserve with a dark butter chocolate cake of her own. What's on tap for Day Two of the Grady County Fair today? Stock shows get underway this morning with both the goat and sheep shows. The commercial vendors open at 10:00 a.m., the carnival begins at 6:00 p.m., and live music begins at 7:00 p.m. with the Southern Sailor Band. The rodeo starts at 8:00 p.m. and there will be a band afterwards.

YMCA to Hold Block Party for Anniversary

The Chickasha Area YMCA celebrates a big milestone. The Y is marking its 35th anniversary this weekend. It has grown to serve hundreds of members and youth. Lewis Knisley is the director-

Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson issued a proclamation commemorating the anniversary saying the Y has been a cornerstone in the community providing invaluable services and programs that promote healthy living and social responsibility. The Y will hold a block party tomorrow morning from 9:00 a.m. to noon and the 700 block of Chickasha Avenue will be closed for the event. There will be water slides, inflatables, a dunk tank, several food trucks, and tours of the facility. They will also have a special introductory price for new members - just $19.89 – the price marks the year the YMCA was founded.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.75 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.92.

Natural gas is $2.03 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,533 and silver is $29.84.

Obituary

Mary Bell

A graveside service for Mary Bell, 87, of Chickasha was held at 10:00 a.m. today at the El Reno Cemetery.  She was a longtime home economist and 4H agent for OSU Extension. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of El Reno and Trinity Baptist Church in Oklahoma City.

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Thursday, Aug. 22^nd

Grady County Fair Opens

The 109th Grady County Fair begins today. The doors will open at noon for the commercial vendors who spent much of the day yesterday organizing their booth spaces. Many of the more than 100 vendors will be in the north exhibit building at the Grady County Fairgrounds and some will be in the event center. The first activity will be the youth horse show at 10:00 a.m. From noon to 2:30 p.m. the cake show entries will be accepted with judging at 3:00 p.m. The formal opening of the fair will be at 6:00 p.m. with fair honorees Billy Scott, and Eddie and Linda Rathbun being recognized. That will be followed by the cake auction and the announcement of the winners of the fair princess and little miss competitions which were held earlier this week. The carnival also opens at 6 p.m. There will be live music from Tim Brauer and the First Look Band at 7:00 p.m.

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One of the events at the fair this weekend is the American Rodeo Contender qualifier that will be held in the outdoor rodeo arena Friday and Saturday nights. Mike Scott with S3 Pro Rodeo is promoting the event-

This is the third year for the qualifier to be held at the fairgrounds and Scott is expecting more than 1,000 contestants.

Early Voting Begins Ahead of Next Week's Elections

In-person, absentee voting is underway for some areas ahead of next Tuesday's primary run-off elections however not all Oklahomans will be going to the polls. In Grady County is the Republican run-off for the District 2 Grady County Commissioner post. Incumbent Kirk Painter is facing challenger Ruth Bingham for the seat. No Democrats filed for the post. Some regional school districts have special bond elections including Blanchard, Lindsay, Marlow, and Hinton. In-person, absentee ballots may be cast at the election board office in the county where voters are registered. Early voting can be done today and tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Regular voting will be at local precincts next Tuesday, Aug. 27^th from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

USAO Students Return; Traffic Through Campus Minimized

The USAO campus is quite active today as it is move-in day for students. To make the effort safer for students and their parents, northbound traffic on 17^th Street between Grand and Alabama Avenues is closed to non-university traffic until 2:00 p.m. The southbound lane of 17^th will be open through campus however motorists should use extreme caution due to the increase of pedestrian activity. Officials urge motorists to use an alternate route around the area, perhaps 20^th Street to avoid the congestion.

FFA Chapters to Receive STEM Grants

A couple of regional FFA chapters get a boost for their Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. The Carnegie and Mt. View-Gotebo chapters have been awarded funds from the parent company of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). The American Electric Power Foundation doled out more than $36,000 to 17 Oklahoma FFA chapters. The grants range from $700 to $2,500 and are being used for projects that include veterinary science and greenhouse and watering systems. The grants will be awarded at five regional FFA Chapter Officer Leadership Training (COLT) conferences.

Chix Community Alliance Opens 'Cooling Station'

While afternoon temperatures have moderated a bit over last couple of days with highs in the mid-90s, triple digit temps are expected to return tomorrow and could be around through the middle of next week. The Chickasha Community Alliance will open an official 'Cooling Station' to help those who need to get out of the heat. The cooling station is at 902 S. 9th Street and will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. through Wednesday, August 28^th.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.18 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.41.

Natural gas is $2.18 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,543 and silver is $30.03.

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Wednesday, Aug. 21^st

Mother Accused of Child Neglect, Drug Use

A woman is jailed on charges of child neglect and drug possession after authorities were called to a Grady County home over the weekend. It a happened Sunday afternoon just south of Minco after the women reportedly passed out after using drugs. A Grady County deputy found the woman unresponsive in a bathroom with multiple needles around her. A probable cause affidavit indicates the deputy administered two doses of Narcan to wake her up. The deputy then field-tested some of the liquid in one of the syringes and determined it to be methamphetamine with fentanyl. The woman identified as 33-year old Adonia Gabrielle Brown did not want to go to the hospital so she was taken into custody. Two children in the home were turned over to their father. Prosecutors have charged Brown with a felony for child neglect and misdemeanors for having drugs. She remains in jail on a $10,000 bond. Brown is to be back in court Sept. 11th for a preliminary hearing conference.

Volunteers Battle Numerous Fires

A number of grass fires kept volunteer firefighters hopping yesterday.  A post on the Grady County Volunteer Fire Department's Facebook page says that Ninnekah firefighters were summoned to a blaze just northeast of that community. At the same time Ninnekah and Farwell departments were dispatched to another grass fire in the Ninnekah area along Old U.S. Highway 81. Farwell and Acme stations responded to a fire northwest of Rush Springs, and Naples was summoned to help with a grass fire in the Blanchard area. There were no reports of property damage at any of those locations.

Report: Chix May Top List of Locations

For State's First Buc-cee's Convenience Store

Could Chickasha be Oklahoma's first location for a popular Texas-based convenience store chain? There's a report that indicates industry experts believe that Buc-cee's may have Chickasha near the top of their list. A story on the website of Lawton radio station KLAW says Chickasha might win out over cities like Ardmore, Norman, and even Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Buc-cee's and its Beaver logo is known for its Texas-style barbecue, fudge, and kolaches. There are locations in several states from Florida to Colorado. The article states that you can't discount Chickasha's reputation as a tourist destination citing the 250,000 visitors at the Festival of Light each year. The report says that the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Lawton and Oklahoma City - with Chickasha in the middle - has a lot of commuter traffic.

Caddo County Church to Celebrate 150th Anniversary

A Caddo County church will be celebrating its 150th anniversary this weekend. Rock Spring Indian Church was organized in 1874 and is said to be the first Baptist church among Oklahoma Plains Indians. The church was founded by the Rev. John McIntosh, a citizen of the Creek Nation who is said to have been the first known Baptist missionary to the tribes. The church is four miles north of Anadarko at U.S. Highway 281 and CR 1300. The church will celebrate with a meal Friday night at 6:00 p.m. with music and gospel Saturday and Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.57 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.60.

Natural gas is $2.16 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,543 and silver is $30.04.

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Tuesday, Aug. 20th

Pro and Con TIF District Opinions Voiced in Public Hearing

It was another marathon meeting for the Chickasha City Council last night. The panel held a second and final public hearing regarding a proposal to create two Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts. The public hearing lasted nearly two hours of the three-hour meeting with eight individuals addressing the panel. They included three former mayors who all support the proposal while a fourth submitted a letter announcing his backing of the project. Among those speaking against the plan was George Thomas who owns property along U.S. Highway 62 which would be located in one of the districts. He said while supporters indicate the districts would encourage new investors and businesses to locate here, there are some are already here and they have been for years-

Former Mayor Hank Ross said TIF districts are helping many Oklahoma communities grow-

Former Mayor Chris Mosley backed the plan and a letter from former mayor Charles Ferguson also encouraged the current council to support the TIFs. Greg Elliott was mayor when the city's first TIF district was created along Grand Avenue and said it was a successful venture. He said that the new proposal would also benefit the city-

Bud Lowe is another property owner in the proposed TIF District. He said that he doesn't want Chickasha to be like metro communities-

The council will vote on the TIF districts at its Tuesday, Sept. 3rd council meeting.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.96 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.51.

Natural gas is $2.23 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,560 and silver is $30.17.

Obituaries

Gerald Coleman

Funeral service for Gerald Coleman, 86, of Amber will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21st at College Heights Baptist Church. He worked for Watershed Research for more than 30 years and was a military veteran serving in the Navy and National Guard.  Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Donna Biggs

No service will be held for Donna Biggs, 74, of Chickasha. She was a teacher and worked on the family farm. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Monday, Aug. 19th

Proposed TIF Districts to get Second Public Hearing

A second and final public hearing on two proposed Tax Increment Finance Districts for the City of Chickasha will be held by the city council this evening. Called the Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Project Plan, the proposal has been under consideration for the last several months - first by a review committee which recommended the proposal be adopted - and then by the city's planning commission which held its own public hearing and also recommended the plan be approved. It calls for creating two districts, one if which is a majority of the downtown area and the other along U.S. Highway 62 east of downtown to the junction of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The council will not make a final decision tonight. That will take place during the Tuesday, Sept. 3rd council meeting.

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The council will consider declaring an emergency due to flooding in the basement at city hall. It calls for the panel to waive the normal competitive bidding requirements and approve payment of more than $82,000 for work performed by Groundworks of Stillwater.

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The council will consider approving final payments to a firm for the installation of water lines. The panel will review three payments totaling more than $550,000 to Marsau Enterprises. The city received some Community Development Block grants to help pay for that work.

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Also to be considered, reimbursing Grady County District Two more than $750,000 for its help in the paving of 29th Street between Highway 62 and Grand Avenue; 16th Street between Country Club Road and Pikes Peak Road; a section of Cottonwood Road east of U.S. Highway 81; and a portion of North 4th Street.

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The panel will also consider paying more than $240,000 for the construction of new hangars at airport. The contractor for that work was Diversified Construction of Oklahoma.

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The group will also consider the purchase of three new Dodge Ram 4500 pickups from Joe Cooper Dodge/Ram for the Public Works Department for a combined total of more than $215,000.

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The panel will also consider accepting more than $40,000 through the office of the Oklahoma Attorney General and the state Opioid Abatement Board to be spent on opioid remediation efforts. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at City Hall.

Grady County Fair is this Weekend

It's Grady County Fair Week! The first activities take place tonight with the princess and little miss contests. Tomorrow, individuals wanting to enter still exhibit items for OHCE, 4H, Open Class, and ag mechanics areas can do that from 3:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Wednesday will be set-up day for the more than 100 commercial vendors to prepare their booth spaces. The 109th Grady County Fair runs Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

Anadarko to Host Circus

The City of Anadarko will be hosting a circus next month. The Culpepper and Merriweather Circus will bring its big tent to the Caddo County Fairgrounds on Wednesday, Sept. 25th. The group has been featured on the A&E Network, Nickelodeon, and OETA. It's a one-day only event and the public is invited to the tent-raising ceremony that morning. Advanced tickets can be purchased at city hall or the library.

Ag Producers Meet Tomorrow

Grady County ag producers will have its second August meeting tomorrow morning. Raedan Sharry will have information on fertility research. Ag producers meet the first and third Tuesday's of the month at 7:00 a.m. at the OSU Extension Office at 9th and Choctaw.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.86 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.98.

Natural gas is $2.13 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,537 and silver is $29.48.

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Saturday, Aug. 17th

Some Critical of New State Law Banning Teacher, Student Texting

 Some Oklahoma teachers are irritated about a new state law banning them from texting or calling students unless they also communicate with the students' parents. Teachers are saying that means they can't even text or call their grandchildren. State Rep. Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle) will hold an interim study on the issue this fall to explore if clarification in needed. Conley says teachers are asking her for guidance about complying with HB3958.  She said teachers and other school employees are being told by administrators to use a school-approved platform under the new law to talk to students - including their own relatives - and if they don't, they'll be written up.  In a press release, Conley said the bill was intended to cut down on predatory comments between educators and students. She also said it was never meant to monitor personal communications between family members. She said she's had discussions with district attorneys and other legal professionals who say school officials are being overly broad in their enforcement of the policy and that such communication should be beyond the scope of law. Conley said she understands there are no safe-harbor provisions in the act and that school districts are doing their best to comply with the law - but feels they are missing the intent. She said the state department of education is required to develop and provide training for school personnel regarding the communication requirements. The interim study is tentatively set for Tuesday, Oct. 1st at the state capital.

Third-Saturday Cars and Coffee at the Leg Today

Weather conditions are perfect for classic car and truck fans this morning. Cars and Coffee at the Leg will be held in downtown Chickasha this morning. It's an opportunity for car, truck, and motorcycle enthusiasts to show off their vehicles. It's a come-and- go event and there's no entry fee for exhibitors or visitors. Cars and Coffee at the Leg is from 8-11 this morning around the Leg Lamp downtown and is always on the third Saturday of the month. Coffee and donuts are free while they last.

Blanchard Bluegrass Fest Concludes Tonight

Bluegrass music fans are spending time in the area this weekend at the annual Blanchard Bluegrass Festival. Five groups will take the stage this afternoon and tonight including one of the returning favorites, Southbound Mule-

Also performing will be The Horn Family, Pearl Snap, Greystone Bluegrass, and Red Bud Hill.  It gets underway at 4 o'clock this afternoon at Lions Park. Admission is free and you should take lawn chairs and blankets. Food trucks will be on hand.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. The Chickasha Area YMCA is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Director Lewis Knisley and the chair of the YMCA Council Erica Alexander are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Aug. 16th

Storms Keep Minco in the Dark Overnight

Strong thunderstorms hit a big section of central Oklahoma last night. Storms with 70 mph winds and quarter- to ping pong ball-sized hail hit parts of Grady County and knocked out power for all of Minco. Nearly 900 PSO customers between Cogar and Tuttle were without power overnight. That initially forced Minco School Superintendent Kevin Sims to call off school. However, power was restored about 7:00 a.m. and Sims said that Minco schools would start at 10:00 a.m. Today is just the second day of classes of the year in Minco.

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The first severe warning was issued for a storm near Minco about 6:22 p.m. Another warning was issued for a storm near Amber at 7:04 p.m. The Minco Mesonet weather site only shows Minco receiving .15 of an inch of rain. The heaviest rainfall totals in the area were in the Tabler and Dibble areas where about an inch of rain was reported. The City of Chickasha received just a trace of rain.

Two Regional State Reps Split Decisions on Dept. of Ed Probe

(EDITOR'S NOTE - This has been corrected from a previous version which had erroneous information. We regret the error) - A couple of regional state lawmakers split their decisions on a proposal to investigate spending concerns within the State Department of Education. Officials with the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency say the investigation is not about controversial actions of Education Secretary Ryan Walters but rather what they are calling funding disbursement issues. State Rep. Dick Lowe (R-Amber) opted to not sign the petition sumbitted by House Speaker Charles McCall while State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) signed the petition.

Longtime Grocer Darrell Lightner Dies

Darrell Lightner, who ran a family-owned grocery store in Chickasha for many years has died. Lightner was 81-years old when he passed away Tuesday. He spent 50 years in the grocery business starting when he was 15 years old. He operated a number of independent grocery stores after opening his first store in Chickasha in 1979. He was also an owner and board member of Farm Fresh Dairies and Bakeries. He was a military veteran and was deployed to the Dominican Republic as an airborne ranger with the U.S. Army. Survivors include his wife Marquita, their children, and their families. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon (Friday, Aug. 16^th) at Bible Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the youth or missions ministries at Bible Baptist.

Other Obituaries

Flossie Jarnagin

A graveside service for Flossie Jarnagin, 96, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17th at Fairlawn Cemetery. She and her husband Hubert were cotton contractors.  Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Robert 'Bob' McKenna

A memorial service for Bob McKenna, 81, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17th at Sevier Funeral Home. He was a four-time high school state tennis champion at Chickasha High School and went on to play at Oklahoma State where he was a Big 8 champion at No. 1 singles. He won 14 national tournaments and also played in the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. He is a member of the Oklahoma Tennis Association Hall of Fame. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Karen Blackwood

Funeral service for Karen Blackwood, 71, of Verden will be held at 9:00 am. Tuesday, Aug. 20th at the Verden First Baptist Church.  She was a librarian for Lawton public schools. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.52 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.62.

Natural gas is $2.21 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,506 and silver is $28.27.

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Thursday, Aug. 15th

Chix PD Offers Back-to-School Safety Tips

Doors have opened for Chickasha Public Schools today. The Chickasha Police Department has issued a number of safety tips for both motorists and pedestrians. For motorists, authorities say be mindful of school buses' flashing yellow and red lights and stop signs, and when you stop be sure to provide enough space between you and the bus. That will allow children and/or parents to safely get on or off the bus and cross the street if necessary. Be sure to slow down through school zones as fines are much higher for those caught speeding through them; and to stop and yield to children and parents crossing the street. Motorists should always avoid texting or talking on cell phones but especially when buses are on their morning and afternoon routes. For pedestrians, students and parents should look both ways before crossing streets and likewise not use cells phone or mobile devices.

Three to be Honored at Grady County Fair

The Grady County Fair is one week away and there will be three honorees this year. Eddie and Linda Rathbun of Rush Springs and retired Amber-Pocasset Ag Teacher Billy Scott will be recognized for their many years of support. The Rathbuns have been helping with the fair over the last three decades. Eddie has served on the fair board for 25 years and continues serving on the board today. Linda has been part of the Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) group cooking and serving meals with OHCE at the fair and helping with some of the still exhibits. Billy Scott was the ag educator and FFA advisor at Amber-Pocasset for 48 years. All will be honored during the opening ceremonies of the fair next Thursday night.

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Some of the fair activities start Monday with the princess and little miss contests; still exhibits can be entered on Tuesday; and set up for commercial vendors will be Wednesday. Among the major sponsors of the fair are Roaster's Market, Lifeline Home Health and Hospice, and Waste Connections.

Registration Open for Rock Island Ride Bicycle Tour

One of the biggest weekends of the year in Chickasha is about six weeks away. It's a trifecta of events which includes the Rock Island Arts Festival, the Oklahoma Food Truck Championships, and The Rock Island Ride bicycle tour. The events will take place Friday, Sept. 27th through Sunday, Sept. 29th. The Rock Island Ride is growing in popularity as there were about 300 riders last year. Johnny Trammell has helped organize the ride since the event began. There are routes for bike riders of all skill levels. Trammell says there is a 10-mile in-town route and a number of longer routes to choose from-

The Rock Island Ride takes place Saturday, Sept. 28th and registration is open at the website: www.bikereg.com/crir

The first 250 riders to register get a free t-shirt. Riders can also register the morning of the ride which will start and end at the Rock Island Railroad Depot.

Free Classes Offered for non-Tech Savvy Seniors

A new program is being offered to help seniors adapt to the world of technology. The Grady County OSU Extension Office is holding a series of free classes called 'Bytes and Bites: A Tech Series for the Young at Heart.' It's to help older adults learn how to use and understand computers and smartphones. The next class will be held Tuesday, Sept. 10th at 12:30 p.m. at the extension office at 9th and Choctaw. The classes are free and a light lunch will be served. For information contact Riley at the extension office by calling 405-224-2216.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.52 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $80.34.

Natural gas is $2.23 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,496 and silver is $28.17.

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Wednesday, Aug. 14^th

Summer Vacation Ends for Chickasha Students

Students in Chickasha Public Schools have their final day of summer vacation today. School officially starts tomorrow. Teachers have already been in their classrooms and meet-and-greets with parents have been held at each school.  To help support the students on their return the Chickasha Chapter of the Beautiful Day Foundation encourages community members to welcome students as they arrive at school in the morning. Organizations, businesses, and individuals are invited to select any school they would like and create an enthusiastic atmosphere as the kids get off the bus or are dropped off by their parents. There will be a Beautiful Day volunteer at each school. For information contact Kelly Wilkerson (940-452-0333). Throughout the school year, the Beautiful Day Foundation holds monthly parties in elementary schools celebrating every student that has a birthday that month.

4Hers Dominate State Roundup

The efforts of several Grady County 4Hers over the last year paid off with some big awards at the state 4H Roundup in Stillwater last month. State record book winners included Ellen Williams in the Achievement project area; Curtis McDermott in the Conservation of Natural Resources project area; Rustin Elliott in the Geology project area; Charramaiyne Brown in the Shooting Sports project area;  Abby Pettijohn in the Public Speaking project area; Shane Williams in the Science and Technology project area; (Shane was also selected to serve as a delegate at the National 4H Congress in Atlanta); and Georgia Nelson in the Agriculture and Natural Resources project area. All received $1,200 scholarships. Mesa Payne, KenLynn Chaney, and Georgia Nelson were named members of the 4H Key Club. Grady County 4H alumna Bailey White who now attends OSU picked up a $1,500 scholarship. Grady County 4Hers combined to earn more than $24,000 in scholarships at Roundup.

Art Professor Has First Overseas Exhibit

A USAO professor spent part of her summer in Europe. Jordan Vinyard, Professor of Art and Dean of the university's School of Visual and Performing Arts, had her first-ever overseas show. Her solo exhibition called Control, Alt, Repeat was held in the northeastern European country of Estonia. A university press release describes it as 'a multi-installation kinetic work which delves into the intricacies of relationships shaped by digital identities.' The release says by capitalizing on Estonia's digital prevalence the show playfully examines the region's complex identities as a border country.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.37 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $80.77.

Natural gas is $2.16 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,510 and silver is $27.93.

Obituaries

Phong Nguyen

Funeral service for Phong Nguyen, 57, of Chickasha will be at 12:00 p.m. Monday, Aug. 19th at Sevier Funeral Home.

Elsie Lessig

A private memorial service will be held at a later date for Elsie Lessig, 86, of Chickasha. She worked for Delta Faucet. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Aug. 13th

Volunteer Fireman Dies in Dairy Accident

A tragic accident has claimed the life of a long-time volunteer firefighter. Bill Nabors, Jr, who served with several departments over the last 20 years passed away last Friday after an accident at Braum's dairy. There's no word on what happened. He was a volunteer at the Amber, Friend, and most recently Pocasset departments. He was 58-years old. Nabors spent most of his life in the Grady County area. After graduating from Ampo High School he joined the Oklahoma National Guard and was a journeyman electrician for nearly 20 years. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and retired after serving more than 35 years combined in the Army and National Guard. After retiring from the Army in 2022 he drove a truck cross country for a short time then went to work for Braum's. Bill leaves behind his wife of more than 30 years, Teresa and three children and their families. A funeral service for Nabors will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17th at Bible Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. The family asks that memorial contributions be made in Bill's honor to any volunteer fire department or to the Grady County Fire Service.

Onward Chickasha Survey Continues Seeking Comment

The third segment of the Onward Chickasha community survey is now available for public comment. This week individuals can see the results of the Transportation and Mobility portion of the survey. There are a total of seven segments that individuals can comment on over the next several weeks. Users do not have to create an account to respond. Comment on the website:

www.OnwardChickasha.org

Chix Chamber to Host Education Forum

Administrators of the three educational institutions in Chickasha will share their thoughts during a State of Education forum later this month. The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce has organized the program to include USAO President Kayla Hale, Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin, and Canadian Valley Technology Center Superintendent Gayla Luttz. The forum will be held at the USAO Ballroom at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27th. Lunch will be served and tickets are $20 for Chamber members and $25 for prospective members. Those wanting to attend should RSVP the chamber by the close of business Monday, Aug. 19th.

Some Chix Schools Host Meet-and-Greets Tonight

Several Chickasha schools are having meet-and-greets tonight. The Lincoln Intermediate Center welcomes students and parents from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.. They are also having a fundraiser in the cafeteria with Nothing Bundt Cakes on hand. The fundraiser is open to everyone.

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The middle school will have a parents meeting at 5:30 p.m. in the auditorium and students and can get their schedules after that meeting until 7:00 p.m.

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The Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center is also having its Back-to-School night. Kindergarten students will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and 1st grade students from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Classes for all students in the Chickasha schools system start this Thursday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.13.

Natural gas is $2.18 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,499 and silver is $27.77.

Obituary

Sue Chaney

Funeral service for Sue Chaney, 70, of Chickasha will be at 3:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16th at Victory Family Church. She was a homemaker and active in her church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to any church youth group.

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Monday, Aug. 12th

Grady County Commissioners OK Pay Raises for Elected Officials

Grady County Commissioners have approved a proposal to give pay hikes to elected officials. Last week, commissioners voted 2-1 in favor of the increases. Commissioners Gary Bray and Kirk Painter voted to approve them and Commissioner Zach Davis voted against the plan. In their meeting this morning the group is expected to sign a resolution to enact those pay hikes. Sheriff Gary Boggess will have his salary increased more than 34 percent or about $25,000 a year – from about $73,000 nearly $100,000. The pay for other elected officials will increase more than 7 percent or $5,000 per year - from $68,000 to just over $73,000 annually. The group will also consider allowing the emergency management office to apply for a grant to benefit the Emergency School Safety Project, which would help get trauma kits in the classrooms of all Grady County schools.

Caddo County Sheriff Warns of Phone Scam

Caddo County officials are warning of a telephone scam which threatens arrest warrants could be issued for individuals who don't appear in federal court. A post on the Caddo County Sheriff's Office Facebook page says the calls are targeting medical professionals saying they had been fined for failure to comply with a subpoena to testify as an expert witness. Officials warn anyone who may receive such a call to hang up and not give out personal information. Officials say subpoenas are always hand-delivered to recipients by the sheriff's office Civil Service Division.

Chickasha Schools Back in Session this Week

Students in Chickasha Public Schools will be returning to classrooms this week. The first day of school is Thursday but teachers are getting started today with the first of three in-service days to prepare for the opening.

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Tonight, the school board will consider an agreement with Grady County which would allow the district to ask the county for assistance with materials, labor and/or equipment in projects related to maintenance, construction, improvements, or repairs. Costs of the projects could be reduced and the scope of the work would be shared between the two entities.

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The panel will also consider hiring an individual to help in the areas of operations and athletics. It's proposed that the panel hire Jerry Johnson to assist with operations and transportation in various areas and the activities director with the development of new coaches and programs, and to establish a mentoring program for new head coaches at the high school and middle school at a cost of $55,000 this school year. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

Biggest Rush Springs Watermelon Tops 200 Pounds!

The weekend rain and cool morning temperatures didn't dampen the spirits of those attending the Rush Springs Watermelon festival on Saturday. It was one of the coolest days anyone could remember with morning temps in the 60s with many patrons sporting parkas and blankets. The largest watermelon shown this year checked in at 201 1/2 pounds and for the second straight year it was grown by Bratcher Melons. Garen Bratcher said he had one in the field at 250 pounds. He's hoping to enter that in the state fair where the record is around 255 pounds.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.69 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $80.37.

Natural gas is $2.25 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,481 and silver is $27.99.

Obituary

Deborah Nickles

Funeral service for Deborah Nickles, 70, of Moore will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14th at Parkview Christian Church. She worked at the Oklahoma City post office for 35 years. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Saturday, Aug. 10th

Electricity Prices Expected to be Higher in 2024

Officials are saying that residential electricity prices in the U.S. will be higher this year. A report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration says prices are expected to be about 1 percent more than last year. If there is a good news side of that it's that the agency says it will be the slowest increase since the pandemic of 2020. The website OK Energy Today reports that natural gas prices have been falling since late last year and those lower prices are being factored into the retail electricity rates. Natural gas provides the largest share of generating electricity across the country.

ODOT Continues Work to Install EV Charging Stations

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently completed its second phase of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. The Southwest Ledger reports the agency spent $9 million to install 13 Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers along the I-44 corridor and I-40 as part of President Biden's push to mandate the use of electric vehicles through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The report indicates that maps of the plan are on-line and that ODOT is seeking comment. The website is www.oklahoma.gov/evok

The deadline to comment is Aug. 19th. The state is to receive $66 million over a five-year period to improve and expand the state's network of EV charging stations.

It's All Things Watermelon in Rush Springs Today

The annual Rush Springs Watermelon Festival is underway. It's the 79th year for the event which started in 1940 and celebrates the local producers of the unofficial watermelon capital of Oklahoma. There are several varieties of watermelon and Rush Springs is known for the Black Diamond variety while they also grow the Jubilee which is what is typically sold in grocery stores. There are also orange- and yellow-meat watermelons. Audrey Heath is this year's festival queen and says it's been a good growing season-

Last year's festival saw the largest melon ever exhibited at 225 pounds grown by Garen Bratcher. Some folks arrived early for the festival for a 5K or 10K run. There is a car show, over 100 arts and crafts vendors, a carnival, live entertainment, food, and 50,000 pounds of watermelon. The evening wraps up with live music from 40 Roses. There is free admission and free parking.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. On the KOOL Konversation are Ralph Poolaw and David Barnes with the Consortium Against Substance Abuse out of Anadarko. A podcast can be found under the Community tab on this website.

Obituary

Deborah Nickles

Funeral service for Deborah Nickles, 70, of Moore will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14th at Parkview Christian Church. She worked at the Oklahoma City post office for 35 years. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Friday, Aug. 9th

Firefighter's Long Journey Home Complete

The body Chickasha Firefighter Mike Wise is finally home nearly three weeks after he passed away during a family vacation in Jamaica. The long journey was completed last night when Wise's body was escorted from the Tulsa airport to Chickasha. He arrived in Chickasha just after 9:00 p.m. as a procession of firefighters and law enforcement escorted him by Fire Station No. 1 for the last time. A memorial service was held this morning at Bible Baptist Church and he was laid to rest in the Blanchard Cemetery.

Assault Suspect Jailed After Violent Ride Across Two Counties

A Grady County man is jailed on assault and battery charges after an alleged violent attack on a woman. 45-year old Justin Paul Anderson of Alex was arrested earlier this week after the victim said Anderson assaulted her as they traveled the backroads of Caddo and Grady counties between Carnegie to Ninnekah. It's alleged Anderson forcefully held her head down in the vehicle. Prosecutors have charged Anderson with a felony for domestic assault and battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor for threatening violence. Bond has been set at $110,000. Anderson previously pleaded guilty to charges of unauthorized use of vehicle and knowingly concealing stolen property after arrests in 2019.

Two Earthquakes Hit Region Minutes Apart

A couple of earthquake rattled of central Oklahoma last night. The Oklahoma Geological Survey and the United States Geological Survey reported the first tremor occurred at 8:16 p.m. about three miles north-northwest of Minco. It measured 1.8 on the Richter scale at a depth of about 1 1/2 miles. Just six minutes later at 8:22 p.m. an earthquake occurred about three miles southwest of Dibble. That measured 3.2 on the Richter scale at a depth of about two miles. No damage has been reported in connection with either earthquake.

Rain Brings Relief for Weekend Events

As we get a break from the extremely hot weather over the last couple of weeks, tonight should be a great night for the Second Friday Art Walk in downtown Chickasha. A number of artisans will have their art on display and for sale. Amanda Lack organizes the event and tells what to expect-

The USAO Art Wrecker Studio will be open as there are some artists-in-residence there. Carnival-type games and live music from Piano Mitch will be around the Leg Lamp. It doesn't cost anything to stroll along the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue. A number of downtown businesses will be open. The art walk is from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival Tomorrow

Rush Springs will hold its 79^th annual Watermelon Festival tomorrow. The festival celebrates the fruits of the labor of local watermelon producers with an estimated 50,000 pounds of watermelon. Large wedges of melons are served at about $3 each but it's free after 4:00 p.m. There is a watermelon barn to exhibit the biggest and best watermelons, live entertainment, a seed-spitting contest, a carnival, a 5K and 10K run in the morning, and more than 100 arts and crafts vendors. The festival gets underway at 9:00 a.m. at Jeff Davis Park and runs through the evening hours. Admission and parking are free. Visitors can park at the high school football field parking lot and take a shuttle to the park.

Blanchard Main Street Cruise Saturday Night

Blanchard will have a blast from the past with its annual Cruise Night. All cars, trucks, motorcycles are anything on wheels are welcome to the cruise. There is no charge as it is not a car show. There will be food trucks along the way. That will be from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. tomorrow night.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.27 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.22.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,462 and silver is $27.55.

Obituaries

Jerry Franklin

Funeral service for Jerry Franklin, 83, of Blanchard will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10th at Trinity Holiness Church in Blanchard. Arrangements are with Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard.

Richard Houston

A celebration of life for Richard Houston, 47, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17th at Breakout Ministries.

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Thursday, Aug. 8th

OSBI Looking into Alleged Open Meeting Act Violations

Grady County District Attorney Jason Hicks and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) have confirmed that the OSBI is looking into allegations that a couple of Grady County commissioners violated the state's open meetings act. During a June 24th County Commissioner's meeting, District One Commissioner Zach Davis accused District 2 commissioner Kirk Painter and District 3 commissioner Gary Bray of discussing county business outside official meetings. After hearing the allegations in that meeting, Assistant District Attorney Charles Scifres said it appeared that an investigation was warranted. In a KOOL/RANCH News interview with OSBI Public Information Manager Hunter McKee, he said it wasn't clear where agents were in their investigation. District Attorney Hicks said once he gets the OSBI report he will ask the state attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the allegations. Painter is running for re-election this year. He's facing challenger Ruth Bingham in the Republican run-off on Aug. 27th. Bray is in the middle of serving his first term as a county commissioner.

Body of Chickasha Firefighter Returning Home Today

The body of Chickasha firefighter Mike Wise is back in the U.S. Wise passed away during a family vacation in Jamaica last month, and family members have faced numerous obstacles in getting him back home. That finally happened yesterday as he was flown from Jamaica to Miami where there is a 24-hour hold. It is expected he'll be flown to Dallas later today and then on to the Tulsa airport. From there, he will get a fire department escort back to Chickasha. When they arrive there will be a procession through town and the public is invited to line the route to pay their respects. It will start at Fire Station Number One near 16th Street and U.S. Highway 62, then south on Jim Cowan Street in front of the high school, then south on 17th Street to get to Ferguson Funeral Home at 8th and Utah. It's not clear when the procession will begin. The City of Chickasha will post information on its Facebook page on the estimated time of arrival. The funeral service for Wise will be at 10:30 tomorrow morning at Bible Baptist Church and he'll be laid to rest in the Blanchard Cemetery.

Community Development Survey Comments Needed

The community development survey known as Onward Chickasha is in its second week of asking residents for their comments about the project. This week's section concerns infrastructure and public services. Officials did say they were having some technical issues with the on-line survey last week, so individuals can still comment on the land use segment. To comment on the plans go to the website Onward Chickasha.org

Representatives say individuals can comment without creating an account. If you are accessing the link on a PC or laptop, click on the 'Review the Document' button in the top right corner. If you are accessing the link on your phone, click on the reply button and you will be asked to provide an e-mail address. They say that will not make you create an account, rather it is to ensure the activity is not spammed. The survey will continue over the next several weeks to include segments like transportation and mobility; housing and neighborhoods; parks and recreation; and community character and quality of life. A final plan will be presented to the Chickasha City Council later.

Ninnekah Schools to Have Surplus Auction

Ninnekah Public Schools will have a surplus sale of a number of items on Saturday. Three school buses, a 2007 Chevy Suburban, filing cabinets, classroom items, books, and other items will be sold. The sale will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.86.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,436 and silver is $26.92.

Obituary

Dennis Jennings

Funeral service for Dennis Jennings, 37, of Chickasha and formerly of Anadarko will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12th at Bible Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, Aug. 7th

Campaign to get Trauma Kits in Classrooms Continues

As students prepare to get back to school over the next couple of weeks, officials continue their work to get trauma kits into every classroom in Grady County schools. Grady County Emergency Management, Chickasha Emergency Management, and the Chickasha Fire Department have joined together for what they call the "Stop the Bleed" campaign. They are looking to raise $50,000 to get trauma kits into the estimated 1,000 classrooms in county schools. Officials say each trauma kit costs about $50. Officials will provide training for the teachers on how to use the kits. Individuals and businesses can contact Amanda Wilkerson at the Grady County Emergency Management Office by calling 405-222-2339, ext. 7802.

Funeral Set for Chickasha Firefighter

The funeral service for Chickasha fire fighter Mike Wise will be this Friday. He was only 48 years old when he passed away last month while on vacation in Jamaica. Wise was born in Denver, Colorado in 1976. After his family moved to Oklahoma he graduated from Piedmont High School and enlisted in the Air Force just a couple of months later. That's where he began his firefighting career. Following his five-year stint with the Air Force he worked at Tinker Air Force base as a civilian fire fighter. He had been with the Chickasha Fire Department since 2013. Wise is survived by his wife Dana and their two children. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9th at Bible Baptist Church. Those attending are asked to wear bright colors to honor the bright light that Mike was. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Arrests Made in Three Separate Child Porn Investigations

Grady County sheriff's deputies have arrested three suspects after investigating three separate complaints of individuals having and/or distributing child pornography. Last Thursday, deputies arrested 33-year Thomas Gene Edghill at a Chickasha home. He's been charged with 11 felonies and a misdemeanor for resisting an officer. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

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Early Saturday morning, deputies wrapped up a nearly year-long investigation after getting a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Authorities arrested 19-year old Damian Oktober Polk at a home in the Blanchard area. A warrant for his arrest was issued July 17th. Polk has been formally charged with three felonies that include having obscene material and violating the state's computer crimes act. He remains in jail on a $250,000 bond.

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Saturday afternoon, deputies arrested 20-year old Adam Omar Karim. A warrant for his arrest was also issued July 17th after a six-month investigation. The USAO student from Norman was accused of distributing the illicit material. He has been charged with one felony for aggravated possession of child porn. On-line court records indicate his bond was initially set at $250,000 but was later reduced to $125,000. He also remains in the Grady County Jail. 

Lawmaker Lauds Upcoming Cut of Grocery Sales Tax

Later this month, Oklahomans will be able to keep a few more of their hard-earned dollars. On Aug. 29^th the state sales tax on groceries will be coming off the books. That's a result of the passage of HB 1955 by state lawmakers earlier this year which was signed by the governor. In a recent media column, State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) said the average Oklahoman will save more than $105 a year on their grocery bills. That translates into $418 million statewide that can be placed into savings or used for other purchases. Boles says the tax cut does not eliminate municipal or county sales taxes on groceries as those funds are needed for police and fire protection and other services.

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Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.10 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.44.

Natural gas is $2.06 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,435 and silver is $27.11.

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Tuesday, Aug. 6th

Chix Residents Chime in on Proposed TIF Districts

In a marathon meeting last night the Chickasha City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Project Plan. It calls for creating two Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts. The goal is to generate sales tax, property tax, and hotel-motel tax revenues from businesses that locate in those districts. A portion of the revenues from those districts would help pay for the installation of water and sewer lines and would also benefit the Chickasha and Canadian Valley school districts and county groups which receive ad valorem taxes. About two hours of the more than four hour meeting included a review of the proposal and the public hearing. Resident Torry Wise proposed that the council allow citizens to decide if the plan should be approved.

Property and business owner Bud Lowe, whose family-owned farm implement dealership lies within one of the proposed districts, said he was never contacted about whether he wanted to be in the district, and asked if he could opt out. Another property owner whose land was not included also was not contacted. Yet another resident asked if the city council could implement eminent domain to force property owners to take part, and officials said that was not the case. No action was taken on the plan. The council will hold a second public hearing during its Aug. 19th council meeting which will be followed by a proposal for the group to approve or deny the ordinance to create the districts in the Tuesday, Sept. 3^rd council meeting.

Mayor Casts Tie-Breaking Vote to Award Business Grant

A divided city council narrowly approved a more than $122,000 Central Business Development Building Grant to a firm which recently renovated the old Chickasha Schools bus barn into a venue called The Gathering, a venue which hosts weddings, reunions, and other special events. Mayor Zach Grayson provided the tie-breaking vote to approve the grant to Open Skies LLC, a firm based in Carrollton, Texas. The company spent about $366,000 to renovate the building. Voting against the proposal were Oscar Nelson, Charlie Burruss, Brian Gerdes, and Kelly Boyd. Voting to approve the grant were Kea Ginn, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Ron Smith, Erica Alexander, and the mayor.

One Police Officer Promoted, Another Sworn In

A Chickasha police officer was promoted and the oath of office given to a new officer during last night's council meeting. Officer Marcus Nieto was promoted to the rank of sergeant. The Chickasha native been with the department for nearly three years and has served on the department's Crisis Intervention Team and as a Field Training Officer. New officer Hunter Sanders was also sworn in. He's from the Bridge Creek area, graduated from high school there and also from the Criminal Justice Officer program at Mid America Technology Center. Sanders also earned an associate's degree in police science from the OSU COPS program. He has served as a detention officer at the Grady County Jail and as a dispatcher with the Cleveland County sheriff's office and is from a law enforcement family.

Ampo Student Inducted into State 4H Hall-of-Fame

A Grady County 4Her is one of the newest members of the Oklahoma 4H Hall of Fame. Shelby Kelcey was inducted into the hall during the state 4H Roundup held in Stillwater last month. Kelcey will be a senior at Amber-Pocasset this year. As a Hall of Fame inductee she received several scholarships totaling more than $10,000. She plans to attend Oklahoma State and work toward a double-major in family and consumer sciences education and marketing and communications.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.12 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.46.

Natural gas is $1.96 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,451 and silver is $27.15.

Obituary

William 'Billy' Herron

A graveside service for Billy Herron, 56, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9th at the Marlow Cemetery. He mowed the Chickasha cemeteries, and was a machinist and a mechanic. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Monday, Aug. 5th

Remains of Missing Grady County Man Found

Family members of a missing Tuttle man get devastating news. Keith Carlson went missing about three months ago after his pickup was found at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on May 21st. Relatives report that human remains found at the refuge on July 27th have been identified as those of Carlsons. Several agencies and a number of private groups searched for Carlson but did not find him. The family reported his remains were found on the grounds of Ft. Sill near where his truck was located.

Chix TIF District Proposal Gets Another Public Hearing

The Chickasha City Council will get details of those two proposed Tax Increment Finance Districts when the panel meets tonight. The plans were first presented during several meetings of a review committee which has recommended that the districts be approved. The city's planning commission held a public hearing on the proposal and also recommended approval. The council will hold the first of two public hearings this evening with a second hearing scheduled for its Aug. 19^th meeting.

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The panel will consider using more than $122,000 for a Central Business District Building grant for a group called Open Skies for renovation work that has been done at 611 Chickasha Avenue. The council will also consider going out for bids for a 100-foot aerial fire truck and an engine and pumper truck for the fire department, and consider an annual agreement with the 522 Emergency Medical Services District.

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 Also to be discussed are proposals to close the 700 block of Chickasha Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 24th for the 35th anniversary celebration of the YMCA; a street closure for the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue the evening of Thursday, Aug. 29th for a street-and-greet event for USAO; and another request to close the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue for a Western Farmers Electric Co-op block party on Oct. 25th. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

Chickasha School Days will be Longer this Year

Chickasha Public Schools will be starting classes earlier this year. Officials have added 15 minutes to each school day which will allow the district to have four-day weeks next spring. Superintendent Rick Croslin said the district conducted a survey last spring about the proposal and it got huge support. Classes at Bill Wallace School and Grand Elementary will start at 7:50 a.m.; classes at Lincoln School Intermediate Center and the middle school will start at 8:35 a.m.; and classes at the high school will start at 8:10 a.m. Croslin said parents wanting to know about school bus pick up times should call the bus barn at 405-222-6570. In the meantime enrollment is continuing, and Croslin said it is all being done on-line again this year and tells one reason they changed the process.

Parents need to log-in to the school district's website to enroll students and can call the enrollment center for information at 405-222-6566.

Area Agronomist to Meet with Local Ag Producers

Grady County ag producers meet tomorrow morning with guest speaker Josh Bushong to be on hand. Bushong is an area agronomist with OSU Extension.  They'll get started about 7:00 a.m. at the Grady County OSU Extension Office in Chickasha at 9th and Choctaw. By the way, today is the final day for individuals to RSVP if they want to attend the Central Oklahoma Wheat Conference in El Reno on Thursday, Aug. 8^th. Contact the Canadian County OSU Extension Office by calling 405-262-0155.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.03 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.39.

Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,464 and silver is $27.61.

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Saturday, Aug. 10th

Electricity Prices Expected to be Higher in 2024

Officials are saying that residential electricity prices in the U.S. will be higher this year. A report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration says prices are expected to be about 1 percent more than last year. If there is a good news side of that it's that the agency says it will be the slowest increase since the pandemic of 2020. The website OK Energy Today reports that natural gas prices have been falling since late last year and those lower prices are being factored into the retail electricity rates. Natural gas provides the largest share of generating electricity across the country.

ODOT Continues Work to Install EV Charging Stations

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) recently completed its second phase of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program. The Southwest Ledger reports the agency spent $9 million to install 13 Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers along the I-44 corridor and I-40 as part of President Biden's push to mandate the use of electric vehicles through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The report indicates that maps of the plan are on-line and that ODOT is seeking comment. The website is www.oklahoma.gov/evok

The deadline to comment is Aug. 19th. The state is to receive $66 million over a five-year period to improve and expand the state's network of EV charging stations.

It's All Things Watermelon in Rush Springs Today

The annual Rush Springs Watermelon Festival is underway. It's the 79th year for the event which started in 1940 and celebrates the local producers of the unofficial watermelon capital of Oklahoma. There are several varieties of watermelon and Rush Springs is known for the Black Diamond variety while they also grow the Jubilee which is what is typically sold in grocery stores. There are also orange- and yellow-meat watermelons. Audrey Heath is this year's festival queen and says it's been a good growing season-

Last year's festival saw the largest melon ever exhibited at 225 pounds grown by Garen Bratcher. Some folks arrived early for the festival for a 5K or 10K run. There is a car show, over 100 arts and crafts vendors, a carnival, live entertainment, food, and 50,000 pounds of watermelon. The evening wraps up with live music from 40 Roses. There is free admission and free parking.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. On the KOOL Konversation are Ralph Poolaw and David Barnes with the Consortium Against Substance Abuse out of Anadarko. A podcast can be found under the Community tab on this website.

Obituary

Deborah Nickles

Funeral service for Deborah Nickles, 70, of Moore will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14th at Parkview Christian Church. She worked at the Oklahoma City post office for 35 years. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Friday, Aug. 9th

Firefighter's Long Journey Home Complete

The body Chickasha Firefighter Mike Wise is finally home nearly three weeks after he passed away during a family vacation in Jamaica. The long journey was completed last night when Wise's body was escorted from the Tulsa airport to Chickasha. He arrived in Chickasha just after 9:00 p.m. as a procession of firefighters and law enforcement escorted him by Fire Station No. 1 for the last time. A memorial service was held this morning at Bible Baptist Church and he was laid to rest in the Blanchard Cemetery.

Assault Suspect Jailed After Violent Ride Across Two Counties

A Grady County man is jailed on assault and battery charges after an alleged violent attack on a woman. 45-year old Justin Paul Anderson of Alex was arrested earlier this week after the victim said Anderson assaulted her as they traveled the backroads of Caddo and Grady counties between Carnegie to Ninnekah. It's alleged Anderson forcefully held her head down in the vehicle. Prosecutors have charged Anderson with a felony for domestic assault and battery by strangulation and a misdemeanor for threatening violence. Bond has been set at $110,000. Anderson previously pleaded guilty to charges of unauthorized use of vehicle and knowingly concealing stolen property after arrests in 2019.

Two Earthquakes Hit Region Minutes Apart

A couple of earthquake rattled of central Oklahoma last night. The Oklahoma Geological Survey and the United States Geological Survey reported the first tremor occurred at 8:16 p.m. about three miles north-northwest of Minco. It measured 1.8 on the Richter scale at a depth of about 1 1/2 miles. Just six minutes later at 8:22 p.m. an earthquake occurred about three miles southwest of Dibble. That measured 3.2 on the Richter scale at a depth of about two miles. No damage has been reported in connection with either earthquake.

Rain Brings Relief for Weekend Events

As we get a break from the extremely hot weather over the last couple of weeks, tonight should be a great night for the Second Friday Art Walk in downtown Chickasha. A number of artisans will have their art on display and for sale. Amanda Lack organizes the event and tells what to expect-

The USAO Art Wrecker Studio will be open as there are some artists-in-residence there. Carnival-type games and live music from Piano Mitch will be around the Leg Lamp. It doesn't cost anything to stroll along the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue. A number of downtown businesses will be open. The art walk is from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival Tomorrow

Rush Springs will hold its 79^th annual Watermelon Festival tomorrow. The festival celebrates the fruits of the labor of local watermelon producers with an estimated 50,000 pounds of watermelon. Large wedges of melons are served at about $3 each but it's free after 4:00 p.m. There is a watermelon barn to exhibit the biggest and best watermelons, live entertainment, a seed-spitting contest, a carnival, a 5K and 10K run in the morning, and more than 100 arts and crafts vendors. The festival gets underway at 9:00 a.m. at Jeff Davis Park and runs through the evening hours. Admission and parking are free. Visitors can park at the high school football field parking lot and take a shuttle to the park.

Blanchard Main Street Cruise Saturday Night

Blanchard will have a blast from the past with its annual Cruise Night. All cars, trucks, motorcycles are anything on wheels are welcome to the cruise. There is no charge as it is not a car show. There will be food trucks along the way. That will be from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. tomorrow night.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.27 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.22.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,462 and silver is $27.55.

Obituaries

Jerry Franklin

Funeral service for Jerry Franklin, 83, of Blanchard will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10th at Trinity Holiness Church in Blanchard. Arrangements are with Eisenhour Funeral Home of Blanchard.

Richard Houston

A celebration of life for Richard Houston, 47, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 17th at Breakout Ministries.

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Thursday, Aug. 8th

OSBI Looking into Alleged Open Meeting Act Violations

Grady County District Attorney Jason Hicks and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) have confirmed that the OSBI is looking into allegations that a couple of Grady County commissioners violated the state's open meetings act. During a June 24th County Commissioner's meeting, District One Commissioner Zach Davis accused District 2 commissioner Kirk Painter and District 3 commissioner Gary Bray of discussing county business outside official meetings. After hearing the allegations in that meeting, Assistant District Attorney Charles Scifres said it appeared that an investigation was warranted. In a KOOL/RANCH News interview with OSBI Public Information Manager Hunter McKee, he said it wasn't clear where agents were in their investigation. District Attorney Hicks said once he gets the OSBI report he will ask the state attorney general to appoint a special prosecutor to look into the allegations. Painter is running for re-election this year. He's facing challenger Ruth Bingham in the Republican run-off on Aug. 27th. Bray is in the middle of serving his first term as a county commissioner.

Body of Chickasha Firefighter Returning Home Today

The body of Chickasha firefighter Mike Wise is back in the U.S. Wise passed away during a family vacation in Jamaica last month, and family members have faced numerous obstacles in getting him back home. That finally happened yesterday as he was flown from Jamaica to Miami where there is a 24-hour hold. It is expected he'll be flown to Dallas later today and then on to the Tulsa airport. From there, he will get a fire department escort back to Chickasha. When they arrive there will be a procession through town and the public is invited to line the route to pay their respects. It will start at Fire Station Number One near 16th Street and U.S. Highway 62, then south on Jim Cowan Street in front of the high school, then south on 17th Street to get to Ferguson Funeral Home at 8th and Utah. It's not clear when the procession will begin. The City of Chickasha will post information on its Facebook page on the estimated time of arrival. The funeral service for Wise will be at 10:30 tomorrow morning at Bible Baptist Church and he'll be laid to rest in the Blanchard Cemetery.

Community Development Survey Comments Needed

The community development survey known as Onward Chickasha is in its second week of asking residents for their comments about the project. This week's section concerns infrastructure and public services. Officials did say they were having some technical issues with the on-line survey last week, so individuals can still comment on the land use segment. To comment on the plans go to the website Onward Chickasha.org

Representatives say individuals can comment without creating an account. If you are accessing the link on a PC or laptop, click on the 'Review the Document' button in the top right corner. If you are accessing the link on your phone, click on the reply button and you will be asked to provide an e-mail address. They say that will not make you create an account, rather it is to ensure the activity is not spammed. The survey will continue over the next several weeks to include segments like transportation and mobility; housing and neighborhoods; parks and recreation; and community character and quality of life. A final plan will be presented to the Chickasha City Council later.

Ninnekah Schools to Have Surplus Auction

Ninnekah Public Schools will have a surplus sale of a number of items on Saturday. Three school buses, a 2007 Chevy Suburban, filing cabinets, classroom items, books, and other items will be sold. The sale will be from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.86.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,436 and silver is $26.92.

Obituary

Dennis Jennings

Funeral service for Dennis Jennings, 37, of Chickasha and formerly of Anadarko will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12th at Bible Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, Aug. 7th

Campaign to get Trauma Kits in Classrooms Continues

As students prepare to get back to school over the next couple of weeks, officials continue their work to get trauma kits into every classroom in Grady County schools. Grady County Emergency Management, Chickasha Emergency Management, and the Chickasha Fire Department have joined together for what they call the "Stop the Bleed" campaign. They are looking to raise $50,000 to get trauma kits into the estimated 1,000 classrooms in county schools. Officials say each trauma kit costs about $50. Officials will provide training for the teachers on how to use the kits. Individuals and businesses can contact Amanda Wilkerson at the Grady County Emergency Management Office by calling 405-222-2339, ext. 7802.

Funeral Set for Chickasha Firefighter

The funeral service for Chickasha fire fighter Mike Wise will be this Friday. He was only 48 years old when he passed away last month while on vacation in Jamaica. Wise was born in Denver, Colorado in 1976. After his family moved to Oklahoma he graduated from Piedmont High School and enlisted in the Air Force just a couple of months later. That's where he began his firefighting career. Following his five-year stint with the Air Force he worked at Tinker Air Force base as a civilian fire fighter. He had been with the Chickasha Fire Department since 2013. Wise is survived by his wife Dana and their two children. Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9th at Bible Baptist Church. Those attending are asked to wear bright colors to honor the bright light that Mike was. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Arrests Made in Three Separate Child Porn Investigations

Grady County sheriff's deputies have arrested three suspects after investigating three separate complaints of individuals having and/or distributing child pornography. Last Thursday, deputies arrested 33-year Thomas Gene Edghill at a Chickasha home. He's been charged with 11 felonies and a misdemeanor for resisting an officer. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $250,000 bond.

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Early Saturday morning, deputies wrapped up a nearly year-long investigation after getting a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Authorities arrested 19-year old Damian Oktober Polk at a home in the Blanchard area. A warrant for his arrest was issued July 17th. Polk has been formally charged with three felonies that include having obscene material and violating the state's computer crimes act. He remains in jail on a $250,000 bond.

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Saturday afternoon, deputies arrested 20-year old Adam Omar Karim. A warrant for his arrest was also issued July 17th after a six-month investigation. The USAO student from Norman was accused of distributing the illicit material. He has been charged with one felony for aggravated possession of child porn. On-line court records indicate his bond was initially set at $250,000 but was later reduced to $125,000. He also remains in the Grady County Jail. 

Lawmaker Lauds Upcoming Cut of Grocery Sales Tax

Later this month, Oklahomans will be able to keep a few more of their hard-earned dollars. On Aug. 29^th the state sales tax on groceries will be coming off the books. That's a result of the passage of HB 1955 by state lawmakers earlier this year which was signed by the governor. In a recent media column, State Rep. Brad Boles (R-Marlow) said the average Oklahoman will save more than $105 a year on their grocery bills. That translates into $418 million statewide that can be placed into savings or used for other purchases. Boles says the tax cut does not eliminate municipal or county sales taxes on groceries as those funds are needed for police and fire protection and other services.

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Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.10 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.44.

Natural gas is $2.06 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,435 and silver is $27.11.

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Tuesday, Aug. 6th

Chix Residents Chime in on Proposed TIF Districts

In a marathon meeting last night the Chickasha City Council held a public hearing on the proposed Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Project Plan. It calls for creating two Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts. The goal is to generate sales tax, property tax, and hotel-motel tax revenues from businesses that locate in those districts. A portion of the revenues from those districts would help pay for the installation of water and sewer lines and would also benefit the Chickasha and Canadian Valley school districts and county groups which receive ad valorem taxes. About two hours of the more than four hour meeting included a review of the proposal and the public hearing. Resident Torry Wise proposed that the council allow citizens to decide if the plan should be approved.

Property and business owner Bud Lowe, whose family-owned farm implement dealership lies within one of the proposed districts, said he was never contacted about whether he wanted to be in the district, and asked if he could opt out. Another property owner whose land was not included also was not contacted. Yet another resident asked if the city council could implement eminent domain to force property owners to take part, and officials said that was not the case. No action was taken on the plan. The council will hold a second public hearing during its Aug. 19th council meeting which will be followed by a proposal for the group to approve or deny the ordinance to create the districts in the Tuesday, Sept. 3^rd council meeting.

Mayor Casts Tie-Breaking Vote to Award Business Grant

A divided city council narrowly approved a more than $122,000 Central Business Development Building Grant to a firm which recently renovated the old Chickasha Schools bus barn into a venue called The Gathering, a venue which hosts weddings, reunions, and other special events. Mayor Zach Grayson provided the tie-breaking vote to approve the grant to Open Skies LLC, a firm based in Carrollton, Texas. The company spent about $366,000 to renovate the building. Voting against the proposal were Oscar Nelson, Charlie Burruss, Brian Gerdes, and Kelly Boyd. Voting to approve the grant were Kea Ginn, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Ron Smith, Erica Alexander, and the mayor.

One Police Officer Promoted, Another Sworn In

A Chickasha police officer was promoted and the oath of office given to a new officer during last night's council meeting. Officer Marcus Nieto was promoted to the rank of sergeant. The Chickasha native been with the department for nearly three years and has served on the department's Crisis Intervention Team and as a Field Training Officer. New officer Hunter Sanders was also sworn in. He's from the Bridge Creek area, graduated from high school there and also from the Criminal Justice Officer program at Mid America Technology Center. Sanders also earned an associate's degree in police science from the OSU COPS program. He has served as a detention officer at the Grady County Jail and as a dispatcher with the Cleveland County sheriff's office and is from a law enforcement family.

Ampo Student Inducted into State 4H Hall-of-Fame

A Grady County 4Her is one of the newest members of the Oklahoma 4H Hall of Fame. Shelby Kelcey was inducted into the hall during the state 4H Roundup held in Stillwater last month. Kelcey will be a senior at Amber-Pocasset this year. As a Hall of Fame inductee she received several scholarships totaling more than $10,000. She plans to attend Oklahoma State and work toward a double-major in family and consumer sciences education and marketing and communications.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.12 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.46.

Natural gas is $1.96 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,451 and silver is $27.15.

Obituary

William 'Billy' Herron

A graveside service for Billy Herron, 56, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9th at the Marlow Cemetery. He mowed the Chickasha cemeteries, and was a machinist and a mechanic. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Monday, Aug. 5th

Remains of Missing Grady County Man Found

Family members of a missing Tuttle man get devastating news. Keith Carlson went missing about three months ago after his pickup was found at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge on May 21st. Relatives report that human remains found at the refuge on July 27th have been identified as those of Carlsons. Several agencies and a number of private groups searched for Carlson but did not find him. The family reported his remains were found on the grounds of Ft. Sill near where his truck was located.

Chix TIF District Proposal Gets Another Public Hearing

The Chickasha City Council will get details of those two proposed Tax Increment Finance Districts when the panel meets tonight. The plans were first presented during several meetings of a review committee which has recommended that the districts be approved. The city's planning commission held a public hearing on the proposal and also recommended approval. The council will hold the first of two public hearings this evening with a second hearing scheduled for its Aug. 19^th meeting.

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The panel will consider using more than $122,000 for a Central Business District Building grant for a group called Open Skies for renovation work that has been done at 611 Chickasha Avenue. The council will also consider going out for bids for a 100-foot aerial fire truck and an engine and pumper truck for the fire department, and consider an annual agreement with the 522 Emergency Medical Services District.

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 Also to be discussed are proposals to close the 700 block of Chickasha Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 24th for the 35th anniversary celebration of the YMCA; a street closure for the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue the evening of Thursday, Aug. 29th for a street-and-greet event for USAO; and another request to close the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue for a Western Farmers Electric Co-op block party on Oct. 25th. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

Chickasha School Days will be Longer this Year

Chickasha Public Schools will be starting classes earlier this year. Officials have added 15 minutes to each school day which will allow the district to have four-day weeks next spring. Superintendent Rick Croslin said the district conducted a survey last spring about the proposal and it got huge support. Classes at Bill Wallace School and Grand Elementary will start at 7:50 a.m.; classes at Lincoln School Intermediate Center and the middle school will start at 8:35 a.m.; and classes at the high school will start at 8:10 a.m. Croslin said parents wanting to know about school bus pick up times should call the bus barn at 405-222-6570. In the meantime enrollment is continuing, and Croslin said it is all being done on-line again this year and tells one reason they changed the process.

Parents need to log-in to the school district's website to enroll students and can call the enrollment center for information at 405-222-6566.

Area Agronomist to Meet with Local Ag Producers

Grady County ag producers meet tomorrow morning with guest speaker Josh Bushong to be on hand. Bushong is an area agronomist with OSU Extension.  They'll get started about 7:00 a.m. at the Grady County OSU Extension Office in Chickasha at 9th and Choctaw. By the way, today is the final day for individuals to RSVP if they want to attend the Central Oklahoma Wheat Conference in El Reno on Thursday, Aug. 8^th. Contact the Canadian County OSU Extension Office by calling 405-262-0155.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.03 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.39.

Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,464 and silver is $27.61.

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Saturday, Aug. 3rd

Chix City Council to Hold First of Two Public Hearings

on Proposed Tax Increment Finance Districts 

Two proposed Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts for the City of Chickasha will be going in front of the city council for the first time next week. The panel will hold two public hearings on the plans -the first will be at Monday night's regularly scheduled council meeting and the second during the regularly-scheduled meeting Aug. 19th. A representative of The Public Law Firm of Oklahoma City which developed the proposals will give a summary of the proposal then the public will have an opportunity to provide input. The proposed districts have the recommendation of a review committee that met several times earlier this year, as well as the city's planning commission which held a public hearing on the proposal last month. The council will meet Monday night at 6:30 at city hall.

Suspect Arrested in Child Porn Investigation Faces A Dozen Charges

A suspect arrested for allegedly having and distributing child porn is facing nearly 200 years in prison if he's convicted. 33-year old Thomas Gene Edghill was arrested Thursday morning by Grady County Sheriff's deputies who were following up on some cyber-tips the office received. Grady County prosecutors filed a dozen felonies in the case which include possessing and distributing illicit material and resisting officers. Edghill remains in the Grady County Jail after a judge set his bond at $250,000. On-line court records show that Edghill previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor larceny charge back in 2013 and ordered to pay a $100 fine.

Second child porn suspect arrested

There's no known connection but authorities have arrested a second person for allegedly having child porn. Grady County authorities issued an arrest warrant a couple of weeks ago for 19-year old Damian Oktober Polk of Lindsay. He was booked into the Grady County early this morning. Polk is charged with three felonies. He'll spend the weekend in jail and it's expected he'll have his initial appearance on the charges on Monday.

Ft. Sill Among Those Being Tested for 'Forever Chemicals' in Ground Water

Federal investigators are looking into whether dangerous forever chemicals are in well water near Fort Sill. The U. S. Army and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plan to test the water at not only Ft. Sill but also the Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester and more than a half-dozen Army posts across the country.  They are checking for chemicals called PFAs which - at high concentrations - are known to increase the risk of cancer. KGOU reports there is a particular interest in PFAs around military facilities because they are heavily used in fire-extinguishing foam and other materials.  The Army previously conducted a larger program to identify PFA sources nationwide in 2017. The new testing will further investigate potential PFA contaminations. If PFAs are found to have gotten into the ground water the two agencies would work with the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to determine how to best protect the health of Oklahomans.

Talk Show Topic

On the KOOL Konversation, USAO professor of theatre Katie Davis will share information about the 24th season of the university's Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Aug. 2nd

Suspect Accused of Having Child Porn Arrested Near School

Grady County sheriff's deputies arrest a man suspected of having and distributing child pornography. On the agency's Facebook page, Sheriff Gary Boggess says his office received a number of cyber tip-line reports of an individual accessing the material from the Internet at a residence near Chickasha's Grand Elementary School. Investigators served a search warrant on the home in the 1300 block of West Grand early Thursday morning. On-line records show that 33-year old Thomas Gene Edgill was booked into the Grady County Jail on a complaint of having the illicit material. Formal charges have not yet been filed.

National Group Provides Millions for State Broadband Office

The effort to expanded high-speed Internet service in the state gets a big financial boost. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has awarded the state nearly $800 million to help get broadband service to rural areas. The award comes after the NTIA approved the state's Broadband Equity And Deployment (BEAD) proposal. The funding will be used to pay for last-mile connections to unserved and under-served homes and businesses. Mike Sanders, the director of the state's broadband office, said the funding is the result of months of planning and stakeholder engagement which can bridge the digital divide in Oklahoma.

OHP Opens Application Period for Trooper Academy

The call is out for individuals who would like to become an Oklahoma State trooper. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) is accepting applications for its 74th academy, a rigorous 20-week training program that will start next May. OHP Chief Pat May says they have launched a new recruiting effort that will allow current troopers to text with potential applicants. Mays said that will allow them to reach the next generation of troopers and be helpful in communicating with individuals throughout the application process. During the academy cadets will be challenged academically, physically, and mentally where days can run from 12 to 18 hours. No previous law enforcement experience is needed. Applications will be accepted through November 30th and can be found on the website: www.ohp.ok.gov

Back-to-School Events Help Students Prepare for the Big Day

With students returning to their classrooms over the next couple of weeks groups have organized back-to-school events to help kids and parents get ready for the big day. Last night, Anadarko Public Schools held its 12th annual back-to-school expo with hundreds of students participating. Tomorrow, Chickasha's Michigan Avenue Baptist Church will have its third annual back-to-school bash. There will be free back packs for students, more than 20 community resource groups will be on hand, and the Grady County Health Department will provide free sports physicals.  Teachers can stop by and get a free gift bag and t-shirt. The event is from 9:00 to noon at the church at 8^th and Michigan Ave. Participants are asked to park at Canadian Valley Technology Center and take a shuttle to the church.

Chix Police to Hold 'Ice Cream with a Cop'

A summer tradition for the Chickasha Police Department will take place this weekend. It's Ice Cream with a Cop where police officers will be serving and enjoying ice cream with the kids. Ice Cream with A Cop will be at Dairy Queen from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. tomorrow.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.43 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.64.

Natural gas is $1.99 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,507 and silver is $29.02.

Obituary

Kenneth Ehli, Sr.

Funeral mass for Kenneth Ehli, Sr., 74, of Thornton, Colorado and formerly of the Yukon and Moore area will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 3rd at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Elgin. He was a U.S. Army Veteran and a mail carrier. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Aug. 1st

Woman Jailed for Alleged Child Sex Crimes

Authorities in Tuttle have arrested a woman for alleged child sex crimes. 31-year old Crystal Summer Joslin was arrested after a nearly two-month investigation. A probable cause affidavit filed by Tuttle police in Grady County District Court indicates the agency was contacted in May and asked to check into a report of an adult having inappropriate relations with a 15 year old. Joslin denied the allegation. She was arrested Tuesday and taken to the Grady County Jail and she's now facing felony charges of enticing a child under 16 into a secluded place; causing-aiding-or abetting a minor in a drug crime; and poisoning food or medicine with intent to injure. She remains in jail on a $100,000 bond.

Fire Destroys Abandoned Rush Springs Home

Grady County volunteer firefighters were called out to battle a house fire in Rush Springs on Tuesday. Fire Chief Jeff Adamson said crews were initially dispatched to a brush fire north of town near the cemetery which spread to an abandoned home and some outbuildings. Crews from the Rush Springs, Acme, and Bailey fire departments, along with Rush Springs EMS were dispatched with about 20 firefighters and 10 trucks responding. Adamson said the 2,500 sq. ft. brick home was fully engulfed when they arrived and crews battled the house fire and brush and grass fires at the same time. Crews were on the scene for about 5 1/2 hours. Adamson said the home and contents were all destroyed and estimated the value at $150,000. He said the cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Grady County Fair Countdown Underway

The 109th Grady County Fair is now just three weeks away. The fair will run Aug. 22nd through 24th at the Grady County Fairgrounds. The theme is 'Traditions and More in '24'. Fairgrounds Marketing Director Jamie Jones talks about one of the events on opening night.

More than 100 commercial vendors will be on hand and many will have free giveaways, OHCE groups will serve home-made meals, there will be a number of food trucks, and the carnival will return with exciting rides and its midway. The premium book is posted on the Grady County Fairgrounds website and individuals can pick up tags for still exhibit entries at the OSU extension office.

USAO Offers Computer Science Degree

USAO has added a bachelor's degree program in computer science in its course offerings this fall. Officials say it will equip students with the practical skills and foundational knowledge needed to excel in the fast-growing field of computer and information technology. University President Kayla Hale said the goal is "to prepare students not only for immediate career opportunities but also lifelong learning and adaptation in an ever-evolving technological landscape." The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 14 percent growth in computer and information technology jobs through the year 2032.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.36 per barrel.

London-based Brent Crude is $81.33.

Natural gas is $2.07 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,479 and silver is $29.01.

Obituaries

Wanda Myers

A graveside service Wanda Myers, 89, of Tuttle was held at 10:30 this morning (Thursday, Aug. 1^st) at Fairview Cemetery of Tuttle. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

Linda Bennett

A graveside service for Linda Bennett, 73, of Ninnekah will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 3rd at the Ninnekah Cemetery. She worked with her husband Dave as they traveled the country with both the Oklahoma and National Tractor Pulling Associations. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics in Linda's name.

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Wednesday, July 31st

Manslaughter Suspect  in Fatal Norman Crash

Recently Released From Grady County Jail

Officials say the suspect arrested for crashing into several vehicles in Norman over the weekend which resulted in the death of one person was recently arrested in Grady County. On-line court records show that 22-year old Bradyn Thomas Brown of Ninnekah was taken into custody by Grady County Sheriff's deputies earlier this month. A warrant had been issued for his arrest in June for charges of possession of a stolen vehicle and knowingly receiving or concealing stolen property. He was arraigned on the charges July 22^nd then released from jail after posting a $5,000 bond. After leaving a trail of destruction in Norman this past Sunday KWTV News 9 reports that Brown was arrested at a Love's Travel Stop. He told police he was speeding to get away from witnesses of the crashes and that he also had fentanyl in his car and didn't want to be caught with it. Brown is now facing numerous charges in Cleveland County including first-degree manslaughter and his bond was set at $1 million.

Mother Jailed for Alleged Child Abuse 

A mother is charged with child abuse after allegedly bloodying the lip of a 9-year old, punching him, and putting him in a headlock. 31-year old Whitney Crawford-Shaw was arrested after Chickasha police were called to a home to investigate a report of child abuse last week. A witness said Crawford-Shaw had beaten him for not listening. The witness also said Crawford-Shaw threw a heavy book at the child which hit him in the leg. The suspect was arrested Friday afternoon and spent the weekend in jail. At her initial appearance in court Monday she was charged with one felony count of child abuse and remains in jail on a $100,000 bond, Also, an emergency protective order was filed against her. A hearing on the emergency protective order is scheduled for next Monday and a preliminary hearing conference on the child abuse charge is scheduled for Aug. 15th.

Semi Takes Down Fiber, Cable Lines

A semi ran into some low-hanging utility lines in a Chickasha neighborhood yesterday. The incident knocked out some fiber-optic and cable services for an unknown number of residents and businesses. It happened just before 11:00 a.m. Tuesday near the downtown area at 9th and Chickasha Avenue. The driver of a Coca-Cola delivery truck hit the low-hanging lines. Unconfirmed reports indicate the truck driver tried to back away from the lines and ended up hitting a pick-up trying to cross the intersection. There were no injuries. Chickasha police and fire responded. There were no power outages associated with the downed fiber and cable lines but crews from Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) arrived to help.

Central Oklahoma Wheat Conference Set

With the 2024 wheat harvest complete producers can get an early start on next year's crop. The Central Oklahoma Wheat Conference will be held next week at the Canadian County OSU Extension Office in El Reno.  The day-long program will feature several guest speakers including OSU professor and wheat genetics chairman Brett Carver and OSU Extension wheat specialist Dr. Brian Arnall. Kyle Worthington is the county director and ag agent for the Canadian County Extension Office and says a lot of information will be available.

Also on hand will be extension livestock specialist Dr. Darrell Peel to give his outlook on the cattle market. The program will be held Thursday, Aug. 8th starting at 8:00 a.m.  Worthington said those attending should RSVP for the luncheon that day. Contact the OSU Extension Office in El Reno by the end of the day Monday, Aug. 5th.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $80.37.

Natural gas is $2.11 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,466 and silver is $28.75.

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Tuesday, July 30th

Monthly Consumer Spending Drops from Last Year's Level

Consumer spending was down more than 11 percent in Grady County in the most recent reporting period compared to the same time last year. According to numbers released from the Oklahoma Tax Commission this month, consumer spending at retail outlets throughout the county in the month of May was estimated to be $92 million - off about 11.6 percent from the $104 million spent in May of 2023. For the City of Chickasha consumer spending was down about 18 percent from a year ago, estimated at $37.3 million last May and $30.6 million this year.

Sales tax collections follow suit

As far as the monthly sales tax collections go Grady County numbers fell from $781,000 last year to $691,000 this year. Chickasha sales tax collections fell from $1.4 million last year to $1.3 million this year. Chickasha's sales tax rate was at 3.75 percent in May last year and it was increased to 4.25 percent this year.

Caution Urged as Sweltering Weather Continues

Grady County Emergency Management officials urge residents to take it easy in the extreme heat that is expected over the next several days. Officials say the National Weather Service out of Norman is forecasting heat index values to be as high as 110 degrees throughout much of western Oklahoma. Officials say if you are going to be outdoors to stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activity during the heat of the day. Warning signs of heat stress and heat stroke include cramps and exhaustion. Officials also say to not leave people or pets inside a closed vehicle  as temperatures could surpass 140 degrees within minutes.

Local Cattle Producers Noted at State Convention

Grady County had good showing at the 72nd annual Oklahoma Cattlemen's Assocation (OCA) Convention earlier this month. Several members of the Grady County Cattle Producers were recognized for their effort. Jena Kellum was elected Vice President of Beef Promotion for the Oklahoma Cattlewomen. Jake Grossnicklaus and Harold Gillenwater were named to the OCA Top Hand Club as they combined to recruit 30 new members. Grossnicklaus said the best news of the event was that Grady County took top honors in the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Foundation Steer Feedout Challenge. Grady County's entry, donated by Cunningam Ranch, was named the Overall Champion Steer. The steer had the top carcass value of more than $3,200 and was second in average daily gain at nearly 5.6 pounds per day. It was the first time for Grady County to enter the competition.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.70 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.65.

Natural gas is $2.06 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,434 and silver is $27.98.

Obituaries

Tina Williams

Funeral service for Tina Williams, 49, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1^st at Ferguson Funeral Home. She was an all-state golfer at Chickasha High School and a dog groomer.

Kayla McKinney

Funeral service for Kayla McKinney, 79, of Ninnekah will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. She and her husband Aaron owned and operated Aaron's Quality Roofing.

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Monday, July 29th

Garvin County Jailer Arrested for Allegedly Having Child Porn

A joint investigation by the McClain and Garvin County Sheriff's offices has a resulted in the arrest of a Garvin County detention officer on allegations he had child porn. 27-year old Benny Christopher Weldon of Pauls Valley was taken into custody last week. Authorities say they got a tip that Weldon had several illegal videos and images in his possession. KFOR-TV cites authorities as saying that Weldon admitted using dark websites to collect the material and shared it with people he met on-line. Weldon has been charged with four felonies in Garvin County District Court in Pauls Valley and his bond was set at $250,000.

Chix Mourns Death of Firefighter

The Chickasha community is mourning the death of a first responder. 48-year old Mike Wise was a firefighter for the Chickasha Fire Department who died last week while on vacation in Jamaica. Wise lived in Blanchard and was a military veteran. Comments posted on his obituary from one colleague said while he had only worked with him for about a year, he could only imagine the impact he had on the community throughout his years of service. Another post said that Mike was an amazing guy and that he had the pleasure of working with him at high school football games. Funeral service is pending with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Stolen Student-Built Career Tech Trailer Recovered

In Caddo County authorities have recovered a large trailer that was stolen from the Caddo-Kiowa Technology Center in Ft. Cobb earlier this year. The trailer built by technology center students was stolen in February. A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page said investigators found the trailer after receiving an anonymous tip. The post indicates that investigators were able to obtain a search warrant on the property where the trailer could be found. Authorities say the case is still under investigation but did not say if any arrests have been made.

Onward Chickasha Development Plan in Final Stages

Chickasha residents will have several more opportunities to comment on a long-range development plan for the city. The Onward Chickasha proposal is in its final stages. Over the next few weeks residents can comment on several sections of the study. This week deals with land use. Individuals can review the plan and provide feedback by going to the website: Onward Chickasha.org

A final presentation will be considered by the city council later this year or early next year.

Area Schools Anticipate Return of Students

The first day of classes for area schools is inching closer. Chickasha Public Schools open Thursday, Aug. 15^th with teachers reporting on Monday, the 12th. After working four-day weeks most of the summer, starting today the administration and enrollment offices will  be open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Officials say returning students and new students need to enroll on-line.  For information send an e-mail to: enrollment@chickasha.k12.ok.us

Officials also remind parents and students that all school supplies at all school sites throughout the year will be provided at no cost through the Chickasha Public School Foundation Classroom Closet.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.06 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.11.

Natural gas is $1.99 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,437 and silver is $28.25.

Obituaries

Imogene Bayless

Funeral service for Imogene Bayless, 98, of Chickasha was held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 29th at Sevier Funeral Home. She and her husband Ross ran the pool hall in Chickasha for many years.

Darrell Bennett

No service is scheduled for Darrell Bennett, 69, of Chickasha. He worked in the oilfield and was a maintenance technician. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Blake Conner

No service is scheduled at this time for Blake Conner, 59, of Seminole and formerly of Tuttle. He was a carpenter. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Johnell Pimpton

Funeral service for Johnell Pimpton, 52, of Chickasha is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Saturday, July 20th

Grady County State Lawmaker to Lead State Senate

State Senator Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) will be leading the state senate later this year. Paxton was elected President Pro-tem-designate by members of the senate Republican caucus this week. Paxton became a candidate for the post last month after Sen. Greg McCortney (R-Ada), who was initially elected pro-tem designate in February, but lost his bid to win re-election last month. Paxton said he started getting phone calls to run for the post almost immediately after the June 18^th election-

As Senate President pro-tem, Paxton will be the third in line at the top of Oklahoma state government behind Gov. Kevin Stitt and Lt. Governor Matt Pinell.

New Leader Takes Reins at Caddo-Kiowa Tech Center

There is a new superintendent in place at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center in Ft. Cobb. Jennie Nunn stepped into the post earlier this month. She is a life-long educator with 25 years in the field including many years as a public school teacher, counselor and administrator. She's been with Caddo Kiowa for ten years and has served as assistant superintendent the last four years. Nunn says they are finishing up a big project this summer-

Caddo Kiowa received a $2.7 million ARPA grant to help build the more than 5,100 sq. ft. building and purchase some trucks and trailers for the truck driver training program. Nunn said the district also used some of its own funds to cover unexpected higher costs of materials and equipment. Nunn was named Caddo Kiowa's top administrator after previous superintendent Tony Hancock accepted a position with the Eastern Oklahoma County Career Tech in Choctaw.

Obituary

Jerry McGuffin

A graveside service for Jerry McGuffin, 82, of Cement was held at 7:00 a.m. this morning, Saturday, July 20th at the Laverty Cemetery. He operated a dairy farm and managed salt water disposals. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Laverty Baptist Church.

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Friday, July 19th

Smithsonian Traveling Exhibit to Open at Anadarko Library

Americans will be casting ballots in the presidential election in November - and a traveling exhibit about the history of voting in the country opens tomorrow at The Anadarko Community Library. The exhibit called 'Voices and Votes: Democracy in America' comes from the Smithsonian Institution. It features 11 inter-active booths and traces voting and democracy from the nation's birth in 1776. Librarian Teresa Ferguson has a description-

Anadarko is one of only six libraries in Oklahoma to host the exhibit. A ribbon cutting and opening ceremony will be held at 9:00 a.m. tomorrow followed by live entertainment. It is free to attend will be at the library through Aug. 31st.

Grady County State Lawmaker Has Whirlwind Week

State Senator Lonnie Paxton (R-Tuttle) has had an interesting week. He was elected Pro tem-designate by the Senate Republican caucus and will hold the top office in the senate during the 2025 legislative session. Last night, Paxton was in attendance at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to hear former President Donald Trump accept the GOP's presidential nomination for the November election. In a prepared statement Paxton said Trump is a proven leader and unwavering in his dedication to the United States of America. He said during Trump's first term as president the country saw record unemployment and historic prosperity. Paxton said Trump's vision for a thriving and secure nation aligns with the core values of the Republican Party.

Ninnekah to hold Founders Day Events

The community of Ninnekah will be celebrating its birthday this weekend. Wikipedia indicates the post office was established on July 28th, 1892 and at the time it was located in Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation.  Founders Day events for the town's 132^nd birthday will start at 10:00 a.m. tomorrow and there will be entertainment, a car show, a pageant, a sidewalk art contest, food, and fun.  Activities are being organized by the Ninnekah PTO. The day will end with a Ninnekah Baseball Alumni game and home run derby with proceeds going to help build an outdoor pavilion for students at Ninnekah Public Schools.

Cars and Coffee at the Leg Modifies Schedule

Also tomorrow morning, it's the monthly gathering of Cars and Coffee at The Leg in downtown Chickasha. The group will meet at 8:00 a.m. at the Leg Lamp and at 9:00 a.m. will head to Ninnekah to be in the Founders Day car show. There is no fee for spectators at either event however there is an entry fee for those who want to enter their vehicles in the car show at Ninnekah.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.75 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.10.

Natural gas is $2.09 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,413 and silver is $29.43.

Obituaries

Linda Pearson

No service is scheduled for Linda Pearson, 73, of Chickasha. She worked in nursing and on the family farm in Alex. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Nancy Turner

Obituaries also include 90-year old Nancy Turner of Chickasha. She worked for Helping Hands where she loved to help people and became friends with Dr. Linda Johnson. At this time no service is scheduled. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Thursday, July 18th

Efforts Continue to Get Internet Service to Rural Areas

The state broadband office continues efforts to get high speed Internet service to under-served and unserved areas. Director Mike Sanders says the office recently received dozens of applications from groups seeking millions of dollars in ARPA funds to help build the infrastructure needed to get to those areas.

Sanders said the office distributed $374 million in ARPA funds to 30 Internet service providers earlier this year with 55 of the state's 77 counties to benefit. Grady, Caddo, Comanche, Stephens, Garvin, and McClain counties are included. Ground-breaking for some of those first projects is expected to be held later this month.

Convicted Killer, Animal Abuser Sentenced

A Marlow woman convicted of murder and more than 100 counts of animal cruelty could spend up to 45 years in prison. Karen Pritchard was arrested in 2021 after the body of a former employee was found in her home. Authorities also found dozens of animals in a puppy mill that were in terrible condition. A Stephens County jury convicted Pritchard in May. In addition to prison, Pritchard was also ordered to pay fines and fees of more than $100,000.

'Adorable' Oklahoma Cities Listed

Several regional communities are considered to be the most adorable towns in Oklahoma. Making the list compiled by World Atlas are Chickasha, Duncan, and Medicine Park. The Oklahoman reported the list. It says Chickasha holds pride in its Native American heritage and points to the Festival of Light and the Leg Lamp. It also mentions the Chief Drive In and Heritage Park Theatre. Duncan was said to have rich western vibes and beautiful outdoors. It highlights the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center, Chisholm Trail Ridge Park, and nearby Waurika Lake. Medicine Park was Oklahoma's first resort town and its natural red, rocky landscape is distinct. Families can swim, rent a cabin, and check out shops and local restaurants. Other towns on the list are Guthrie, Stillwater, Idabel, Broken Bow, and Miami.

Parts of Chickasha to be Without Water Service Today

Here's a reminder for residents in the southwest part of Chickasha. The City of Chickasha will be testing water valves much of the day between 12th and 24th Streets and between Grand Avenue and Carolina Avenue. Much of the area could have no or low water pressure throughout the day. Officials say they hope to finish by mid-afternoon. Should residents have discolored water after service is restored they can call the public works headquarters at 405-222-6080 and ask that there water line be flushed.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.96 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.05.

Natural gas is $2.04 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,467 and silver is $30.73.

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Wednesday, July 17th

Human Remains Found; Identified as Missing Chickasha Man

Skeletal remains found in Chickasha last week have been identified as 47-year old Richard Houston, a man who had been missing for almost a year. Houston was last seen Aug. 30th last year and his disappearance was considered suspicious. A statewide alert had been posted in hopes that someone could provide news of his whereabouts. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) released information on its Facebook page late yesterday saying the remains were found near the Chickasha Animal Shelter last Thursday. The OSBI said the state medical examiner is still trying to determine how Houston died. Anyone who may have information about Richard Houston is asked to contact the OSBI on-line: tips@osbi.ok.gov or by calling 1-800-522-8017. The OSBI thanked the Chickasha Police Department, Grady County Sheriff's Office, and Molly Gibb and her rescue K9s for their help.

Chix Officials to Seek Cost of Flood Prevention Project

Chickasha officials look to minimize damage that might occur in future flooding events. The city council this week approved a flood mitigation initiative and will go out for bids to develop a project. Emergency Management Director Edward Perez said there are some federal funds available that can help pay for some projects-

City officials paid for a flood prevention study a few years ago but have not taken any action. City Councilman Charlie Burruss questioned the move and talked about concerns he expressed in a previous meeting about using federal funds-

The proposal to solicit bids passed 6-1 with Burruss voting against the plan.

Chix Council Adopts County Hazard Mitigation Plan

The city council approved a resolution to adopt the Grady County Hazard Mitigation Plan. City Emergency Management Director Edward Perez said the city has been without such a plan for some time and tells a couple of reasons why the plan needed to be adopted-

Perez said all municipalities and school districts have to adopt the county plan to be eligible for funds.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.66.

Natural gas is $2.18 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,480 and silver is $31.18.

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Tuesday, July 16th

Homicide Suspect Arrested 

One person is in custody after a man was shot to death at a Chickasha apartment complex yesterday. Law enforcement agencies were dispatched to the Winding Creek Apartment complex near 9th and Country Club Road about 6:40 yesterday morning. Chickasha police called in the OSBI to help with the investigation. OSBI spokesman Hunter McKee told KFOR-TV that first responders were unable to save the life of the victim.

The name of the victim has not been released. The OSBI arrested 28-year old Stephen Kaufman on a manslaughter complaint and he is being held in the Grady County Jail.

Chix Residents Concerned About Group Home

Some Chickasha residents are concerned about a group home for recovering addicts that has opened in their neighborhood. A national group called Oxford House, LLC purchased a home in the 100 block of Skyline Drive recently. Residents say as many as nine individuals are living there and they are not supervised. According to the Oxford Group website, the group develops self-run, self-supported recovery homes nationwide. Several neighbors took their concerns to the Chickasha City Council last night. KOOL/RANCH News talked to resident Emily Nelson-

Nelson and her neighbors say everyone deserves a second chance but also say the Oxford House should have followed the proper procedures before allowing residents to move in.

Water Valve Testing to Impact Chix Neighborhood

The City of Chickasha will be testing water valves in the southwest part of the city later this week and that will cause low or no water pressure much of the day.  Officials say the testing will start about 8:00 a.m. Thursday in the area from 12^th Street to 24th Street and from Grand Avenue to Carolina Avenue as crews repair or replace faulty valves. Officials say once service is restored the water could be discolored. If that happens officials say residents can call Public Works at 405-222-6080 and ask to have their water line flushed.

Tuttle State Senator Elected to Leadership Post

A Grady County state lawmaker has been elected as one of the top leaders at the state capital. Tuttle State Senator Lonnie Paxton was selected as the State Senate Pro-tem designate by the Senate Republican caucus yesterday. The election came five months after the caucus initially named Ada State Senator Greg McCortney to the post.  However, McCortney was defeated in his re-election bid in the June primary. Paxton said he was honored by the faith his Senate colleagues have in him. He said he has been successful because of the relationships he has built in his eight years at the capital, and that the Republican caucus would reach across the aisle to Democrats and to the executive branch to enhance the state. Paxton is currently the chairman of the Senate's Public Safety Committee and its Redistricting committee.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.23 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.23.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,447 and silver is $31.12.

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Monday, July 15th 

Breaking-

The OSBI reports a homicide investigation is underway in Chickasha. Reports indicate that one person is dead and one person is in custody after an incident at Winding Creek Apartments near 9th and Country Club Road. Listen to 106.1 The Ranch News for updates at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Chix Council to Commit Some Funds for Water Treatment Plant

The Chickasha City Council will be taking the next steps to continue the plans to build a new water treatment plant when the panel meets tonight. During the Chickasha Municipal Authority portion of tonight's meeting the panel will consider a change in the master services agreement with engineering firm Freese and Nichols for the design and construction of the  plant. It calls for increasing the current contract of $3.5 million to $8.7 million. A separate proposal calls for an addtional $4 million to cover the final design and bidding services needed to complete the project. Officials say construction could start next summer with completion estimated to be in late 2026.

Waterline installation permit OK'd

During the city council portion of tonight's gathering the panel is expected to acknowledge the receipt of a permit to install a waterline to serve Ada Sipuel Avenue at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The permit was recently approved by the State Department of Environmental Quality. The project includes more than 700 feet of 16-inch diameter pipe and 70 feet of six-inch diameter pipe.

Use-on-Review up for discussion

The group will hold a public hearing for a proposed Use-on-Review to allow an additional rental unit at 607 Wisconsin on property owned by James Perryman. The Planning Commission has recommended that the use-on-review be approved. 

Executive session set for police and fire union MOUs

Tonight's meeting also includes a closed-door meeting to discuss negotations with unions that represent the police and fire departments. Up for consideration are memorandums of understanding with the Chickasha Fraternal Order of Police Local 129 and the International Assocation of Firefighters Local 2041. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

New Undersheriff Named in Caddo County

Caddo County Sheriff Spencer Davis has appointed a new undersheriff. Tom Adkins has 27 years' experience in law enforcement with most of those at the sheriff's office. A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page indicates that he served as the team commander for the Special Response Team and also served with the District 6 Drug and Violent Crime Task Force. He is a U.S. Army veteran and spent several years in the National Guard for more than 20 years combined. He was a combat veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Adkins fills the post previously held by Delbert Stallings who recently retired after more than 20 years with the agency.

Willowbrook Construction Manager Earns State Honor

A long-time construction manager with a Chickasha-based firm has picked up an award from a state organization. Dale Smith of Willowbrook Development Company was voted as Superintendent of the Year by the American Subcontractors Assocation of Oklahoma. Smith is a 45-year veteran in construction trades and has served as senior superintendent for Willowbrook for 17 of those years. Smith said he was grateful to earn the award as he was nominated by subcontractors they work with and voted on candidates. Among Smith's projects are several at Deer Creek Public Schools including a new elementary school, a new 4th and 5th grade center, and a transition center geared toward special-needs students.

Turnpike Project to Affect Motorists 

Starting today, traffic on the H.E. Bailey turnpike between Chickasha and Newcastle will be down to one lane in both directions for several months. Officials say they will be installing guard rails and repairing shoulders from mile marker 80 (the junction with U.S. Highway 81/4th Street) to mile maker 91 (junction with SH 4 and H.E. Bailey Spur). Officials say its an $8.7 million project that the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority awarded to T.J. Campbell Construction Company out of Oklahoma City.

Livestock Specialist to Lead Ag Producer Meeting

Grady County ag producers will be meeting tomorrow morning for the second of their bi-monthly meetings. OSU Extension Area Livestock Specialist Dana Zook will be discussing current information. Ag producers meet the first and third Tuesdays of each month at the Grady County OSU Extension Office at 7:00 a.m.

Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.27 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $85.10.
Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,416 and silver is $30.95.

Obituaries

David Riley

Funeral service for David Riley, 73,  of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 Tuesday, July 16 at First Baptist Church of Pocasset. Arrangments are with Sevier Funeral Home. He owned and operated Cochran Abstract Company.

Anthony Hart

Funeral service for Anthony Hart, 84, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 17th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and started Hart Trailer Company.

Floyd Frenzen

A memorial service for Floyd Frenzen, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 19th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired as an HVAC maintenance technicial from the Pauls Valley State School. 

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Saturday, July 13th

Studies Differ on State's Economic Status

One study shows the Sooner State is No. 1 for the lowest cost-of-living in the country while another indicates the overall economy is among one of the worst. The Oklahoman reported the good news about the cost-of-living by the website GOBankingRates. The site monitors personal finance and banking information and used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. It showed the annual cost-of-living for the average family is just under $63,000. That's about 15 percent lower than the national average of just under $73,000. Annual housing costs are about $15,000 and are 32 percent lower, the cost for groceries is about $5,700 which is 6 percent lower, and the cost for utilities is about $4,500 and is 2 percent lower. Hawaii has the highest cost of living at over $131,000 per year.

WalletHub survey shows different view

On the other hand, the state's overall economy is among the worst in America according to a study by WalletHub. The state ranks 32^nd overall or 18th worst in the country. The Oklahoman cited the survey as saying three areas measured were economic health, economic activity, and innovation potential. WalletHub's report said the state of Washington had the best economy while Mississippi had the worst. The Oklahoman reported data contradicting that survey which shows the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing faster than the U.S. as a whole and that in 2022 it was the third-fasted growing economy in the country. As of April, The American Legislative Exchange Council reported Oklahoma was 9th in the country for its economic outlook, while Forbes in its 2024 report said the Oklahoma City-metro area was the second-best place for small businesses in the country.

Turnpike Work Will Impact Traffic Between Chix, Newcastle

Starting Monday, traffic on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Chickasha and Newcastle will be down to one lane in both directions for several months. Officials say they will be installing guard rails and repairing shoulders from mile marker 80 which is the U.S. Highway 81/4th Street junction - to mile maker 91 which is the State Highway 4 and HE Bailey Spur junction. Officials say it's an $8.7 million project that the Turnpike Authority awarded to T.J. Campbell Construction Company out of Oklahoma City.

Pay Doubles for Precinct Workers on Election Days

A new state law is expected to help county election boards get more people to work on election days. The law that has just gone into effect doubles the pay of those who work at county precincts. There are three workers at every precinct - pay for the inspector increases from $110 to $225 per day; pay for the judges and clerks increases from $100 a day to $200 per day. No experience is necessary as training is provided. The hours are long as precincts are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. when polls are open. Workers should have reliable transportation and will work in the county where they are registered to vote. Individuals can apply and get information at the election board office in their county.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Mike Sanders with the Oklahoma Broadband Office is on the KOOL Konversation discussing efforts to expand high-speed Internet to rural areas. Find a podcast of the program under the community tab on this website.

Obituary

Floyd Frenzen

A memorial service for Floyd Frenzen, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 19th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired as an HVAC maintenance technician from the Pauls Valley State School.

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Friday, July 12th

Homicide Victim was Generous, Caring

Friends and co-workers of a woman found dead in her home outside of Chickasha this week are speaking out about her caring spirit and generosity. KOCO Channel 5 reports that Holly Miller had a big heart and talked to people as she knew them forever. She even donated a kidney to a former boss. She worked for a senior living facility in Mustang. A statement from the facility asked that individuals keep Holly's family in their thoughts and prayers as they navigate through a difficult time. The FBI has not released any more details about its investigation into Miller's death which is being called suspicious. They have not indicated if there has been an arrest. The FBI was called in to investigate because the case has tribal ties. A funeral service for Miller will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 17th at Southern Oaks Church of Christ. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

State Panel Says Oil Rig Blast Accidental;

Other Agencies May Also Investigate

Officials with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission say that oil rig explosion near Bradley on Monday was an accident. The explosion and ensuing fire injured four workers with three of them taken to hospitals. KOKH Fox 25 reports that the corporation commission said the investigation into the cause of the fire would done by the Grady County fire departments or other local public safety officials. The corporation commission's role is to mitigate any pollution that may have resulted from the blast and none was found. While the commission said while it was accidental other agencies may step in, including the state labor department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Chix Official Hopeful for More Infrastructure Upgrades

With a new fiscal year underway Chickasha city officials are looking to have a little more money for various infrastructure work that is needed. Ward 2 City Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Georgieanne Hebblethwaite said with city voters approving a sales tax increase for one major project, other funds can be used in several areas-

She also said that the city's recent purchase of the old Chief Fire and Safety buildings will allow the city to create a third fire station within the next few years.

USAO Tuition Rates to Remain the Same

USAO has announced that there will be no tuition or fee increases for the coming school year. Officials say in-state residents who enroll in 15 credit hours on average can expect to pay about $4,100 per trimester. Colleges across the state are required to offer first time Oklahoma residents a tuition rate that will be guaranteed for at least four academic years. Students who opt for that program will pay about $4,600 per trimester.

Monthly Art Walk Downtown Chix Tonight

It's the second Friday of the month and that means it's time for another art walk in downtown Chickasha. A number of vendors will be located in the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue near the leg lamp and they'll have some items for early Christmas shopping (since it is Christmas in July). Vendors will be opening about 5:00 p.m. and there will also be live music with The Southern Sailor Band playing from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Christmas Movie Downtown Tomorrow Night

Christmas in July activities are going on all month long in Chickasha and the Chamber of Commerce will be showing the first of two Christmas movies tomorrow night. A Christmas Story will be shown outdoors at the Leg Lamp beginning at 8:00 p.m. Saturday and admission is free. There will be snack trucks with popcorn and other goodies available for purchase. Those attending should take lawn chairs and blankets. The chamber will also be showing 'Elf' on Saturday, July 20th.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.54 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.16.

Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,409 and silver is $31.05.

Obituaries

Greg Oliver

A memorial service for Greg Oliver, 60, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13th at McRay Funeral Home. He was a high school wrestling champion at Midwest City High School and was a math tutor. Memorial contributions may be made to a mental health charity of choice.

Jerry White

Funeral service for Jerry White, 59, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 22nd at Victory Family Church. He worked at Delta Faucet, Gabriel, and most recently part time at Wal-Mart.  Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, July 11th

OSBI, FBI Investigate Suspicious Death 

State and federal officials continue looking into what officials call a suspicious death that occurred just outside of Chickasha earlier this week. The OSBI is assisting the FBI in the investigation. Grady County deputies were asked to do a welfare check on an individual Monday evening and authorities found a body inside a home. Investigators have not released the victim's name. The FBI is leading the investigation because a citizen of a Native American tribe is involved. Officials would not say if they were looking for a suspect. Authorities said there was no danger to the public.

Turnpike Closed Nearly Two Hours After Multi-Vehicle Crash

A multi-vehicle crash on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Chickasha and Newcastle shut down a portion of the interstate yesterday. The highway patrol reports the accident happened in one of the westbound lanes at mile marker 93 just after 4:00 p.m. OHP reported there were some injuries but no details were immediately available. One of the westbound lanes was closed for nearly two hours.

Chix School Teachers to Report Aug. 8th, 9th

Fall classes for Chickasha Public Schools begin five weeks from today! The first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 15th for students. Teachers however will report the previous week – with new teachers to attend an orientation on Thursday, Aug. 8th and all teachers will have a required work day Friday, the 9th. Teachers and staff will have three days of in-service training Monday, Aug. 12th through Wednesday, Aug. 14th.

New principal named at Bill Wallace School

There will be a new principal for the district. The school board this week hired Gretchen Slate as the new principal at the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center. She previously was an assistant principal at Kennedy Elementary in the Norman Public School district. She's a 17-year veteran of education having taught first through third grades and previously served as an assistant principal for elementary and middle schools. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education at OU and a master's degree in educational leadership at East Central. She's now pursuing a doctorate's degree in educational leadership.

Chix Chamber Staff Member Hired for USAO Post

A Chickasha Chamber of Commerce staffer is changing careers. Whitney Palesano, who has served as the chamber's Membership and Operations Director, is moving across town to be the new Director for Alumni Relations at USAO. While at the chamber she fostered strong member relationships and successful fundraising programs, and developed and implemented comprehensive engagement strategies that strengthened connections between the chamber and the Chickasha business community. Palesano will be doing much of the same at USAO, fostering relationships with alumni and managing fund-raising programs. She'll also oversee the Alumni Association's Scholarship program. Palesano graduated from USAO and says she's excited about her new role. Chamber of Commerce President Jim Cowan says the search is underway to fill Palesano's post.

State 4H Horse Show Underway at Fairgrounds

4Hers from across the state will be in Chickasha over the next three days for the state 4H horse show. They'll get started this morning with ranch horse riding in junior and senior divisions. Events will be held at the Grady County Fairgrounds in both the event center and the indoor arena. Today there is ranch roping, working-cow horse events, and break-away roping. Tonight, there will be a social event and a family game night. Competitions are scheduled throughout the day today with Friday and Saturday events starting at 8:00 a.m. each day.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.24 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.30.

Natural gas is $2.34 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,383 and silver is $31.33.

Obituary

Bob Hankins, Jr.

A graveside service for Bob Hankins, Jr. 80, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He was a machinist and truck driver and played on the St. Joseph's Academy state basketball championship team. He was also a long-time umpire at youth baseball and softball games. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, July 10th

TIF District Proposal Gets Support of Planning Commission

It's called the Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Project Plan. The plan, which would create two Tax Increment Finance Districts in the city, was reviewed by the city's planning commission yesterday. The panel held a public hearing on the matter with attorney Nate Ellis of the Public Finance Law Group providing a 30-minute presentation. It's the same presentation he gave last month to the Tax Increment Finance District Review Committee which recommended that the proposal be approved. The planning commission held a public hearing of its own on the proposal yesterday with less than 10 people in attendance. And with little debate the panel voted 4-0 to also recommend that the plan be adopted. The proposal now goes to the city council which will hold two more public hearings. The first will be on August 5th with a second one two weeks later on August 19th. The council could vote on the proposal in a meeting in early September.

Grady County Budget Proposals Submitted for Approval

Grady county leaders have submitted nearly $24 million in budget requests for the 2024-25 fiscal year which is just under way. The Grady County Excise Board held a joint meeting with county commissioners yesterday as leaders submitted their estimates of needs for the next 12 months. The $24 million is a nearly 7 percent increase over the previous 12 months. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess submitted the largest budget request of nearly $7.5 million – an increase of more than 26 percent or $1.5 million over last year. That would be 30 percent of the entire county budget. Boggess said he wants to provide raises, hire additional deputies, and lease-purchase some new vehicles.  Boggess said about $1.2 million in salaries for school resources officers would be reimbursed by the school districts the officers work with. The excise board will meet again next month to finalize the budget.

Former Verden Employee Faces Felony 

for Ramming into Mayor's Pickup

The former animal control officer for the town of Verden is in trouble after authorities say he used a city-owned vehicle to intentionally crash into a pick up owned by the town's mayor. An arrest warrant was issued Monday for 62-year old Roy Dale Upton. He turned himself in yesterday and was charged with a felony for malicious injury to property then released after paying a $10,000 bond. The incident occurred March 8th. A probable cause affidavit filed by a state trooper indicates that Upton was upset after being told that he was going to be fired during a city council meeting that night. He initially told the trooper that he didn't mean to hit the pickup of Mayor David Holder. However, there was video surveillance which allegedly shows Upton intentionally sped up and rammed into the side of the truck causing more than $7,000 in damage. Upton then admitted the act was intentional. He is to be back in court for a preliminary hearing conference July 31st.

Driver Injured When Semi Tips Over

A semi driver is hospitalized after an early morning accident. 62-year old Cheryl Newton of Alex suffered head and shoulder injuries and was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was last in stable condition. The accident happened about 12:30 a.m. about three miles east of Chickasha. The highway patrol said that Newton was attempting to turn from a private drive on to CR 2890 (Lucile Road) when the semi rolled on to its passenger side. Newton was wearing a seatbelt. The trooper dispatched to investigate said the cause of the accident was unsafe speed.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.82.

Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,379 and silver is $31.23.

Obituary

Dana McElroy

Funeral service for Dana McElroy, 62, of Amber will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 12th at the Minco First Baptist Church. She worked at Grady Memorial Hospital and Southern Plains Medical Center. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Women's Imaging Center at Grady Memorial.

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Tuesday, July 9th

Oil Rig Explosion Under Investigation

Four people were injured and three of them were taken to hospitals after an explosion at an oil rig site in eastern Grady County yesterday. The blast occurred about 2:30 p.m. in the Bradley area on State Highway 19. Media reports indicated that the site was operated by Red Rock Oil and Gas and that the injured were all employees. Volunteer firefighters from the Bradley, Naples, Alex, Bailey, and Cox City departments were dispatched. Media reports say after the initial explosion the rig caught fire due to the heat of the equipment. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said they'll likely monitor the site for days in case of potential flare-ups. The names of those injured were not released.

Chix Planning Commission to Consider Proposed TIF Districts

A proposal to create two Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts in the City of Chickasha goes before the city's Planning Commission this afternoon. The proposal received unanimous approval of a special TIF District Review Committee that was appointed to review the plans. It calls for creating two such districts - one is mainly the downtown area and the other along U.S. Highway 62 just east of downtown to the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The commission will consider whether or not to recommend the districts and pass that recommendation on to the city council for its consideration.

Also on the Planning Commission Agenda

The panel will hold a public hearing to consider an over-size building at 116 Mockingbird Lane; a special use permit at 607 Wisconsin; and the appointment of Mike Mosley as planning commission chairman.

Search Finds Drugs in Grady County Jail Inmate's Cell

A federal prisoner being held in the Grady County Jail is accused of having drugs in his possession. Court documents indicate that investigators found drugs during a random check of 30-year Anthony Steven Price's cell. Officials say he was planning to sell them. KSWO-TV reports that Price is being held on charges of robbery and having a firearm after felony convictions.

Applicants Sought for County Fair Princess, Little Miss Contests

The Grady County Fair is just a few weeks away and fair organizers are seeking candidates to run for the title of fair princess and the little miss county fair. Last year's fair princess Kelci McCarthy has information-

There is an earlier deadline than usual for candidates to submit their applications which is Friday, July 19th. Princess candidates will have to have a talent as part of their contest which will be held on Monday, Aug. 19th. The winner will reign over the fair later that week August. 22nd through 24th. For information and applications go to the website:

gradycountyfairgrounds.com/free-fair.html

Enrollment Begins for Chix Public Schools

Only five weeks of summer vacation remain for students and teachers at Chickasha Public Schools. Classes will begin Thursday, August 15^th and officials say the enrollment process has begun and will be only be done on-line. A parent log-in is needed to get the process started. For information parents can send an e-mail to the enrollment center: enrollment@chickasha.k12.us

call 405-825-3134; or visit the enrollment center at 7th and Kansas Avenue which is across the street from the post office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.90 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.37.

Natural gas is $2.37 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,371 and silver is $31.36.

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Monday, July 8th

Strong Storms Bring Large Hail, Heavy Rains, High Winds

The 4th of July weekend ended with a bang with numerous thunderstorms that moved through the Sooner State.  Strong thunderstorms brought large hail, heavy rains, and high winds to much of the Grady County and surrounding area late yesterday. Storms moved through the northern half of Grady County between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. last night. The first thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service just before 5:00 p.m. for a storm near Cogar with 60 mile per hour wind gusts and quarter-sized hail. That was followed by another warning in the same area for a storm with 60 mile and hour wind gusts and ping-pong ball-sized hail. At 5:11 p.m., a storm near Gracemont had 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. 10 minutes later, a warning was issued for a line of storms from Pocasset to Verden with 70 mph wind gusts and ping-pong ball sized hail. At 5:53 p.m., a warning was issued for a line of storms from Bridge Creek to Apache with 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. At 6:35 p.m., a severe storm near Bradley had 60 mph wind gusts and tennis ball-sized hail. The last warning was issued at 6:44 p.m. for another storm near Bradley with 60 mph winds that also had tennis-ball sized hail. There are still a few power outages this morning as a result of the storms. 25 REC members in McClain and Garvin counties are without electricity. About 50 PSO customers are without power mainly in the Caddo County areas of Binger and Hinton. Utility crews are just east of Chickasha near Cimarron Trailers working on some power lines this morning.

One Person Dies, One Hospitalized in Motorcycle Accident 

A Ninnekah couple were involved in a deadly crash while riding their motorcycle in Arkansas over the weekend. Dave and Linda Bennet were riding their Harley-Davidson east of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Media reports indicate that for an unknown reason the motorcycle ran off the highway and crashed into a ditch. Linda died in the accident and Dave was taken to a hospital where his condition in unknown.

UTV Rollover Injures Several Passengers

Three people were taken to a hospital and one was admitted after a UTV crash in Caddo County. The accident happened near the Canadian River Bridge over I-40 east of Hinton about 8:00 p.m. Sunday. The highway patrol said the UTE was traveling too fast on a curve along the riverbank and rolled on to the passenger side. The UTE was driven by 21-year old Shelby Gregory of Binger who was not hurt. 24-year old Dylon West of Yukon was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in stable condition with leg injuries. Two unidentified teenaged girls from Calumet were taken to a hospital and treated for their injuries and released.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX $82.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.72.

Natural gas is $2.32 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,380 and silver is $31.30.

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Saturday, July 13th

Studies Differ on State's Economic Status

One study shows the Sooner State is No. 1 for the lowest cost-of-living in the country while another indicates the overall economy is among one of the worst. The Oklahoman reported the good news about the cost-of-living by the website GOBankingRates. The site monitors personal finance and banking information and used data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center. It showed the annual cost-of-living for the average family is just under $63,000. That's about 15 percent lower than the national average of just under $73,000. Annual housing costs are about $15,000 and are 32 percent lower, the cost for groceries is about $5,700 which is 6 percent lower, and the cost for utilities is about $4,500 and is 2 percent lower. Hawaii has the highest cost of living at over $131,000 per year.

WalletHub survey shows different view

On the other hand, the state's overall economy is among the worst in America according to a study by WalletHub. The state ranks 32^nd overall or 18th worst in the country. The Oklahoman cited the survey as saying three areas measured were economic health, economic activity, and innovation potential. WalletHub's report said the state of Washington had the best economy while Mississippi had the worst. The Oklahoman reported data contradicting that survey which shows the state's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is growing faster than the U.S. as a whole and that in 2022 it was the third-fasted growing economy in the country. As of April, The American Legislative Exchange Council reported Oklahoma was 9th in the country for its economic outlook, while Forbes in its 2024 report said the Oklahoma City-metro area was the second-best place for small businesses in the country.

Turnpike Work Will Impact Traffic Between Chix, Newcastle

Starting Monday, traffic on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Chickasha and Newcastle will be down to one lane in both directions for several months. Officials say they will be installing guard rails and repairing shoulders from mile marker 80 which is the U.S. Highway 81/4th Street junction - to mile maker 91 which is the State Highway 4 and HE Bailey Spur junction. Officials say it's an $8.7 million project that the Turnpike Authority awarded to T.J. Campbell Construction Company out of Oklahoma City.

Pay Doubles for Precinct Workers on Election Days

A new state law is expected to help county election boards get more people to work on election days. The law that has just gone into effect doubles the pay of those who work at county precincts. There are three workers at every precinct - pay for the inspector increases from $110 to $225 per day; pay for the judges and clerks increases from $100 a day to $200 per day. No experience is necessary as training is provided. The hours are long as precincts are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. when polls are open. Workers should have reliable transportation and will work in the county where they are registered to vote. Individuals can apply and get information at the election board office in their county.

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Mike Sanders with the Oklahoma Broadband Office is on the KOOL Konversation discussing efforts to expand high-speed Internet to rural areas. Find a podcast of the program under the community tab on this website.

Obituary

Floyd Frenzen

A memorial service for Floyd Frenzen, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 19th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and retired as an HVAC maintenance technician from the Pauls Valley State School.

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Friday, July 12th

Homicide Victim was Generous, Caring

Friends and co-workers of a woman found dead in her home outside of Chickasha this week are speaking out about her caring spirit and generosity. KOCO Channel 5 reports that Holly Miller had a big heart and talked to people as she knew them forever. She even donated a kidney to a former boss. She worked for a senior living facility in Mustang. A statement from the facility asked that individuals keep Holly's family in their thoughts and prayers as they navigate through a difficult time. The FBI has not released any more details about its investigation into Miller's death which is being called suspicious. They have not indicated if there has been an arrest. The FBI was called in to investigate because the case has tribal ties. A funeral service for Miller will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, July 17th at Southern Oaks Church of Christ. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

State Panel Says Oil Rig Blast Accidental;

Other Agencies May Also Investigate

Officials with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission say that oil rig explosion near Bradley on Monday was an accident. The explosion and ensuing fire injured four workers with three of them taken to hospitals. KOKH Fox 25 reports that the corporation commission said the investigation into the cause of the fire would done by the Grady County fire departments or other local public safety officials. The corporation commission's role is to mitigate any pollution that may have resulted from the blast and none was found. While the commission said while it was accidental other agencies may step in, including the state labor department and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Chix Official Hopeful for More Infrastructure Upgrades

With a new fiscal year underway Chickasha city officials are looking to have a little more money for various infrastructure work that is needed. Ward 2 City Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Georgieanne Hebblethwaite said with city voters approving a sales tax increase for one major project, other funds can be used in several areas-

She also said that the city's recent purchase of the old Chief Fire and Safety buildings will allow the city to create a third fire station within the next few years.

USAO Tuition Rates to Remain the Same

USAO has announced that there will be no tuition or fee increases for the coming school year. Officials say in-state residents who enroll in 15 credit hours on average can expect to pay about $4,100 per trimester. Colleges across the state are required to offer first time Oklahoma residents a tuition rate that will be guaranteed for at least four academic years. Students who opt for that program will pay about $4,600 per trimester.

Monthly Art Walk Downtown Chix Tonight

It's the second Friday of the month and that means it's time for another art walk in downtown Chickasha. A number of vendors will be located in the 100 block of Chickasha Avenue near the leg lamp and they'll have some items for early Christmas shopping (since it is Christmas in July). Vendors will be opening about 5:00 p.m. and there will also be live music with The Southern Sailor Band playing from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Christmas Movie Downtown Tomorrow Night

Christmas in July activities are going on all month long in Chickasha and the Chamber of Commerce will be showing the first of two Christmas movies tomorrow night. A Christmas Story will be shown outdoors at the Leg Lamp beginning at 8:00 p.m. Saturday and admission is free. There will be snack trucks with popcorn and other goodies available for purchase. Those attending should take lawn chairs and blankets. The chamber will also be showing 'Elf' on Saturday, July 20th.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.54 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.16.

Natural gas is $2.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,409 and silver is $31.05.

Obituaries

Greg Oliver

A memorial service for Greg Oliver, 60, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 13th at McRay Funeral Home. He was a high school wrestling champion at Midwest City High School and was a math tutor. Memorial contributions may be made to a mental health charity of choice.

Jerry White

Funeral service for Jerry White, 59, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 22nd at Victory Family Church. He worked at Delta Faucet, Gabriel, and most recently part time at Wal-Mart.  Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Thursday, July 11th

OSBI, FBI Investigate Suspicious Death 

State and federal officials continue looking into what officials call a suspicious death that occurred just outside of Chickasha earlier this week. The OSBI is assisting the FBI in the investigation. Grady County deputies were asked to do a welfare check on an individual Monday evening and authorities found a body inside a home. Investigators have not released the victim's name. The FBI is leading the investigation because a citizen of a Native American tribe is involved. Officials would not say if they were looking for a suspect. Authorities said there was no danger to the public.

Turnpike Closed Nearly Two Hours After Multi-Vehicle Crash

A multi-vehicle crash on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike between Chickasha and Newcastle shut down a portion of the interstate yesterday. The highway patrol reports the accident happened in one of the westbound lanes at mile marker 93 just after 4:00 p.m. OHP reported there were some injuries but no details were immediately available. One of the westbound lanes was closed for nearly two hours.

Chix School Teachers to Report Aug. 8th, 9th

Fall classes for Chickasha Public Schools begin five weeks from today! The first day of school is Thursday, Aug. 15th for students. Teachers however will report the previous week – with new teachers to attend an orientation on Thursday, Aug. 8th and all teachers will have a required work day Friday, the 9th. Teachers and staff will have three days of in-service training Monday, Aug. 12th through Wednesday, Aug. 14th.

New principal named at Bill Wallace School

There will be a new principal for the district. The school board this week hired Gretchen Slate as the new principal at the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center. She previously was an assistant principal at Kennedy Elementary in the Norman Public School district. She's a 17-year veteran of education having taught first through third grades and previously served as an assistant principal for elementary and middle schools. She earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education at OU and a master's degree in educational leadership at East Central. She's now pursuing a doctorate's degree in educational leadership.

Chix Chamber Staff Member Hired for USAO Post

A Chickasha Chamber of Commerce staffer is changing careers. Whitney Palesano, who has served as the chamber's Membership and Operations Director, is moving across town to be the new Director for Alumni Relations at USAO. While at the chamber she fostered strong member relationships and successful fundraising programs, and developed and implemented comprehensive engagement strategies that strengthened connections between the chamber and the Chickasha business community. Palesano will be doing much of the same at USAO, fostering relationships with alumni and managing fund-raising programs. She'll also oversee the Alumni Association's Scholarship program. Palesano graduated from USAO and says she's excited about her new role. Chamber of Commerce President Jim Cowan says the search is underway to fill Palesano's post.

State 4H Horse Show Underway at Fairgrounds

4Hers from across the state will be in Chickasha over the next three days for the state 4H horse show. They'll get started this morning with ranch horse riding in junior and senior divisions. Events will be held at the Grady County Fairgrounds in both the event center and the indoor arena. Today there is ranch roping, working-cow horse events, and break-away roping. Tonight, there will be a social event and a family game night. Competitions are scheduled throughout the day today with Friday and Saturday events starting at 8:00 a.m. each day.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.24 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.30.

Natural gas is $2.34 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,383 and silver is $31.33.

Obituary

Bob Hankins, Jr.

A graveside service for Bob Hankins, Jr. 80, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, July 20th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He was a machinist and truck driver and played on the St. Joseph's Academy state basketball championship team. He was also a long-time umpire at youth baseball and softball games. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Wednesday, July 10th

TIF District Proposal Gets Support of Planning Commission

It's called the Gateway to Chickasha Economic Development Project Plan. The plan, which would create two Tax Increment Finance Districts in the city, was reviewed by the city's planning commission yesterday. The panel held a public hearing on the matter with attorney Nate Ellis of the Public Finance Law Group providing a 30-minute presentation. It's the same presentation he gave last month to the Tax Increment Finance District Review Committee which recommended that the proposal be approved. The planning commission held a public hearing of its own on the proposal yesterday with less than 10 people in attendance. And with little debate the panel voted 4-0 to also recommend that the plan be adopted. The proposal now goes to the city council which will hold two more public hearings. The first will be on August 5th with a second one two weeks later on August 19th. The council could vote on the proposal in a meeting in early September.

Grady County Budget Proposals Submitted for Approval

Grady county leaders have submitted nearly $24 million in budget requests for the 2024-25 fiscal year which is just under way. The Grady County Excise Board held a joint meeting with county commissioners yesterday as leaders submitted their estimates of needs for the next 12 months. The $24 million is a nearly 7 percent increase over the previous 12 months. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess submitted the largest budget request of nearly $7.5 million – an increase of more than 26 percent or $1.5 million over last year. That would be 30 percent of the entire county budget. Boggess said he wants to provide raises, hire additional deputies, and lease-purchase some new vehicles.  Boggess said about $1.2 million in salaries for school resources officers would be reimbursed by the school districts the officers work with. The excise board will meet again next month to finalize the budget.

Former Verden Employee Faces Felony 

for Ramming into Mayor's Pickup

The former animal control officer for the town of Verden is in trouble after authorities say he used a city-owned vehicle to intentionally crash into a pick up owned by the town's mayor. An arrest warrant was issued Monday for 62-year old Roy Dale Upton. He turned himself in yesterday and was charged with a felony for malicious injury to property then released after paying a $10,000 bond. The incident occurred March 8th. A probable cause affidavit filed by a state trooper indicates that Upton was upset after being told that he was going to be fired during a city council meeting that night. He initially told the trooper that he didn't mean to hit the pickup of Mayor David Holder. However, there was video surveillance which allegedly shows Upton intentionally sped up and rammed into the side of the truck causing more than $7,000 in damage. Upton then admitted the act was intentional. He is to be back in court for a preliminary hearing conference July 31st.

Driver Injured When Semi Tips Over

A semi driver is hospitalized after an early morning accident. 62-year old Cheryl Newton of Alex suffered head and shoulder injuries and was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was last in stable condition. The accident happened about 12:30 a.m. about three miles east of Chickasha. The highway patrol said that Newton was attempting to turn from a private drive on to CR 2890 (Lucile Road) when the semi rolled on to its passenger side. Newton was wearing a seatbelt. The trooper dispatched to investigate said the cause of the accident was unsafe speed.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.66 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.82.

Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,379 and silver is $31.23.

Obituary

Dana McElroy

Funeral service for Dana McElroy, 62, of Amber will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 12th at the Minco First Baptist Church. She worked at Grady Memorial Hospital and Southern Plains Medical Center. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Women's Imaging Center at Grady Memorial.

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Tuesday, July 9th

Oil Rig Explosion Under Investigation

Four people were injured and three of them were taken to hospitals after an explosion at an oil rig site in eastern Grady County yesterday. The blast occurred about 2:30 p.m. in the Bradley area on State Highway 19. Media reports indicated that the site was operated by Red Rock Oil and Gas and that the injured were all employees. Volunteer firefighters from the Bradley, Naples, Alex, Bailey, and Cox City departments were dispatched. Media reports say after the initial explosion the rig caught fire due to the heat of the equipment. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said they'll likely monitor the site for days in case of potential flare-ups. The names of those injured were not released.

Chix Planning Commission to Consider Proposed TIF Districts

A proposal to create two Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts in the City of Chickasha goes before the city's Planning Commission this afternoon. The proposal received unanimous approval of a special TIF District Review Committee that was appointed to review the plans. It calls for creating two such districts - one is mainly the downtown area and the other along U.S. Highway 62 just east of downtown to the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The commission will consider whether or not to recommend the districts and pass that recommendation on to the city council for its consideration.

Also on the Planning Commission Agenda

The panel will hold a public hearing to consider an over-size building at 116 Mockingbird Lane; a special use permit at 607 Wisconsin; and the appointment of Mike Mosley as planning commission chairman.

Search Finds Drugs in Grady County Jail Inmate's Cell

A federal prisoner being held in the Grady County Jail is accused of having drugs in his possession. Court documents indicate that investigators found drugs during a random check of 30-year Anthony Steven Price's cell. Officials say he was planning to sell them. KSWO-TV reports that Price is being held on charges of robbery and having a firearm after felony convictions.

Applicants Sought for County Fair Princess, Little Miss Contests

The Grady County Fair is just a few weeks away and fair organizers are seeking candidates to run for the title of fair princess and the little miss county fair. Last year's fair princess Kelci McCarthy has information-

There is an earlier deadline than usual for candidates to submit their applications which is Friday, July 19th. Princess candidates will have to have a talent as part of their contest which will be held on Monday, Aug. 19th. The winner will reign over the fair later that week August. 22nd through 24th. For information and applications go to the website:

gradycountyfairgrounds.com/free-fair.html

Enrollment Begins for Chix Public Schools

Only five weeks of summer vacation remain for students and teachers at Chickasha Public Schools. Classes will begin Thursday, August 15^th and officials say the enrollment process has begun and will be only be done on-line. A parent log-in is needed to get the process started. For information parents can send an e-mail to the enrollment center: enrollment@chickasha.k12.us

call 405-825-3134; or visit the enrollment center at 7th and Kansas Avenue which is across the street from the post office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.90 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.37.

Natural gas is $2.37 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,371 and silver is $31.36.

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Monday, July 8th

Strong Storms Bring Large Hail, Heavy Rains, High Winds

The 4th of July weekend ended with a bang with numerous thunderstorms that moved through the Sooner State.  Strong thunderstorms brought large hail, heavy rains, and high winds to much of the Grady County and surrounding area late yesterday. Storms moved through the northern half of Grady County between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. last night. The first thunderstorm warning was issued by the National Weather Service just before 5:00 p.m. for a storm near Cogar with 60 mile per hour wind gusts and quarter-sized hail. That was followed by another warning in the same area for a storm with 60 mile and hour wind gusts and ping-pong ball-sized hail. At 5:11 p.m., a storm near Gracemont had 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. 10 minutes later, a warning was issued for a line of storms from Pocasset to Verden with 70 mph wind gusts and ping-pong ball sized hail. At 5:53 p.m., a warning was issued for a line of storms from Bridge Creek to Apache with 60 mph winds and quarter-sized hail. At 6:35 p.m., a severe storm near Bradley had 60 mph wind gusts and tennis ball-sized hail. The last warning was issued at 6:44 p.m. for another storm near Bradley with 60 mph winds that also had tennis-ball sized hail. There are still a few power outages this morning as a result of the storms. 25 REC members in McClain and Garvin counties are without electricity. About 50 PSO customers are without power mainly in the Caddo County areas of Binger and Hinton. Utility crews are just east of Chickasha near Cimarron Trailers working on some power lines this morning.

One Person Dies, One Hospitalized in Motorcycle Accident 

A Ninnekah couple were involved in a deadly crash while riding their motorcycle in Arkansas over the weekend. Dave and Linda Bennet were riding their Harley-Davidson east of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Media reports indicate that for an unknown reason the motorcycle ran off the highway and crashed into a ditch. Linda died in the accident and Dave was taken to a hospital where his condition in unknown.

UTV Rollover Injures Several Passengers

Three people were taken to a hospital and one was admitted after a UTV crash in Caddo County. The accident happened near the Canadian River Bridge over I-40 east of Hinton about 8:00 p.m. Sunday. The highway patrol said the UTE was traveling too fast on a curve along the riverbank and rolled on to the passenger side. The UTE was driven by 21-year old Shelby Gregory of Binger who was not hurt. 24-year old Dylon West of Yukon was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in stable condition with leg injuries. Two unidentified teenaged girls from Calumet were taken to a hospital and treated for their injuries and released.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX $82.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.72.

Natural gas is $2.32 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,380 and silver is $31.30.

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Saturday, July 6th

Holiday Drownings Have OHP Urging Water Safety

State troopers are encouraging Oklahomans to be extra careful on waterways for the rest of the Independence Day Weekend. At least four people have drowned in lake-related accidents since Thursday. Trooper Ryan Griffith said that every one of the drownings were avoidable. He suggests anyone going in the water should wear a life jacket.

Anadarko Cleaning Up After Storms

Anadarko residents are spending part of their 4th of July weekend cleaning up from Thursday night storms. Residents who have downed trees and limbs can take those items to the city roll-off site today until 6:00 p.m. today (Saturday, July 6^th). Residents will have to show a copy of their utility bill.

Rush Springs Fire Department Adding Volunteers

The Rush Springs Fire Department is looking for some additional volunteers. The department posting on its Facebook page that no experience is necessary and they will provide training. Candidates must be 18 years old. They would like to add four more volunteers to their staff.

Energy Week-in-Review

It was an up-and-down week for energy prices. We get a re-cap from Dave Lanning with the Radio Oklahoma Network-

Crude oil on the NYMEX closed the week at $83.16 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.54.

Natural gas is $2.32 per million BTUs.

Gold is just under $2,400 and silver is $31.69.

Talk Show Topic

This week's guest on KOOL Konversation is Teresa Ferguson with the Anadarko Community Library. There is a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, July 5th

Storms Knock Out Power in Several Counties

More than 2,000 power outages are reported in central and southwest Oklahoma as strong thunderstorms have been pummeling the area since late Thursday afternoon. Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) has more than 1,500 customers without power from Chickasha and Ninnekah to Lawton. Hundreds of electric co-op members are also without electricity. CK Energy reports more than 260 outages throughout Grady, Caddo, and Canadian counties; Rural Electric Co-op reports 75 members without power in Grady, McClain and Garvin counties; and OEC reports just a handful of members without power in Canadian County.

City of Anadarko deals with power issues

Parts of Anadarko were without power for several hours last night and early this morning after strong thunderstorms moved through the area yesterday. A post on the City of Anadarko's Facebook page indicates that a number of utility poles were damaged and had to be replaced and crews would be working overnight to get power restored. The post indicated that the outage includes an area from West Central Boulevard to West Colorado Avenue and from 6th Street to 9th Street including the Sunset area. Mayor Kelly McGlothlin said power was restored about 4:00 a.m. today (Friday).

Shoplifting Suspects Sought in Cement, Anadarko

Caddo County authorities are looking for shoplifters in two separate incidents. The sheriff's office is looking for suspects wanted for shoplifting at the Dollar General Store in Cement last month. Photos of a man and woman have been posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office. And the Anadarko Police Department is looking for shoplifters at Walmart. Photos are posted on the Anadarko Police Department's Facebook page.

Researchers Say Climate Change Will

Increase Social Injustice for Native Americans 

University of Oklahoma researchers say a proposed cobalt-nickel refinery in the Lawton area is an example of how they contend that climate change is likely to intensify hazard risk and social injustice for Native Americans. The publication Indian Country Today reports that citizens of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache nations don't want the plant on their ancestral lands. A recent article cites Theresa Tsoodle of Anadarko who is a university research associate and a traditional knowledge keeper for Indigenous scientists. She said it is hard to withstand extreme rainfall events if the land's surface area has been altered from mining or drained for farming. The plant is being proposed by Bartlesville-based Westwin Elements.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $87.31.

Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,363 and silver is $30.83.

Obituaries

Henry Alexander

Funeral service for Henry Alexander, 75, Henry Alexander will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 13th at St. Stephens Baptist Church in Duncan. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Thursday, July 4th

No news due to the holiday.

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Wednesday, July 3rd

Chix Councilman Wants More Civility in Council Meetings

New Chickasha City Councilman John Smith wants to prevent verbal attacks from being made against council members by individuals who may be addressing the council during a citizen comment section during meetings. This past Monday, Smith said that he and fellow new council representatives Erica Alexander and Charlie Burruss attended a training session held by the Oklahoma Municipal League and learned that certain protocols should be in place-

City Manager Keith Johnson supported Smith's proposal-

Smith said the citizen communications section of the meeting is important for individuals to address concerns that aren't on the agenda. But said attacks on council members that have occurred in recent meetings should not occur.

Wife of Former Chickasha City Manager Dies

The wife of former Chickasha City Manager Larry Shelton has died. Carolyn Shelton was 73 when she passed away on Sunday. The Sheltons lived in Chickasha for about 20 years until he retired in 2011 to enter the private sector in engineering and county planning and development jobs. The couple celebrated their 50th anniversary earlier this year. A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, July 5th at the IOOF Cemetery in Norman. Arrangements are with Havenbrook Funeral Home in Norman.

More Independence Day Fireworks and Events Set

The 4^th of July holiday is just around the corner and there are a number of festivities in the area tonight. Grand Assembly of God will hold its Freedom Fest 24 tonight. Activities start at 6:00 p.m. with free food, games, live music and fireworks. Salt Creek Casino in Pocasset will have fireworks and the City of Tuttle will have fireworks tonight as well. Tomorrow for the 4^th, the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce will hold its Stars and Handlebars Parade through Shannon Springs Park at 10:00 a.m. Tomorrow night there will be fireworks at the park.

Tattoo Artists Dominate OKC Competition

Chalk up more awards for local tattoo artists. Several staff members at Downtown Tattoo in Chickasha come home with a dozen trophies from the Oklahoma City Tattoo Festival this past weekend. Garrett Hall won first in Cover-up and Female Medium Black-and-Gray; runner-up in Large, Female, and Medium Black-and Gray; Best-of-Day Black-and-Gray; and third overall for Best-of-Day. Jayden Washabaugh was runner-up, 3rd, and 5th in Best-of-Day Black-and-Gray; and Greg Martinez was third for Male Large Black-and-Gray and 4th for Best of Day.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.31.

Natural gas is $2.44 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,356 and silver is $30.42.

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Tuesday, July 2^nd

Chix Council Rep Displays Bad Water Sample

as Panel Gets Update on New Water Plant Plans

How's this for timing? Last night, the Chickasha City Council got an update on plans to build a new water treatment plant - as officials also fielded complaints about cloudy and dirty water coming out of city faucets.  City Councilman Charlie Burruss brought a pint-sized jar of discolored water to the meeting and asked if anyone else was having similar issues. City Manager Keith Johnson said there have been some recent water line breaks that may have caused some problems but also cited another reason.

Johnson said in spite of the water quality it is safe to drink. He recommended that households and businesses open their taps for a few minutes to help move the debris through the system.

Water plant design plans are on schedule

Officials from Freese and Nichols, the Oklahoma firm designing the new water treatment plant, gave about a 15-minute slide-show presentation regarding the preliminary design for the facility. It was the first update on the plan since it was introduced in January. Engineer Jason Cocklin told the council this was Phase 2 of a five-phase program-

He said the 6 million gallon per day level is expected to be enough for the next 30 to 40 years and that the design would allow the plant to process up to 8 million gallons per day should that be needed. Cocklin also said officials will pre-treat the water which comes from the Ft. Cobb-Reservoir at a site west of Chickasha - a process that had been discontinued due to some Department of Environmental Quality issues at that location.

Cocklin anticipates they'll have the final plans drawn up by next spring with bids to be taken between March and May. Construction could get underway next summer and it is anticipated to take 18 months. Early estimates are that the plant could be on-line by the end of 2026.

Grow Facility Robbery Suspects Are Formally Charged

The four suspects arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a marijuana grow facility in Grady County over the weekend have had formal charges of conjoint robbery filed against them. Bond for Herbert Morris, 20, was set at $300,000; bond for Geane Johnson Jr., 25, was set at $150,000 (Johnson is also charged with possession of a firearm after felony conviction); and bond for Ameil Rainger, 20, and Anthony Rainger, 21, was set at $50,000 each. All of them are reported to have Oklahoma City addresses. They were arrested early Saturday morning when law enforcement were summoned to the facility between Alex and Tabler when the manager witnessed the hold-up while viewing remote video surveillance of the property.

Blanchard Independence Day Celebration Tonight

The City of Blanchard will host its annual Independence Day celebration tonight. Activities at Lion's Park begin at 6:00 p.m. with family games and activities, food trucks, and live music from SuperFreak and The Oklahoma Symphonic Band. The fireworks will start at dusk.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $87.19.

Natural gas is $2.45 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,334 and silver is $29.61.

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Monday, July 1st

Robbery at Grow Facility Injures One; Four Suspects Arrested

Law enforcement agencies nab several suspects red-handed for allegedly robbing a rural Grady County marijuana grow facility. A post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page indicates authorities were notified by the manager of the facility who was monitoring video surveillance just before 2:00 a.m. Saturday. The facility is in a rural part of the county between Alex and Tabler. Sheriff's deputies and other law enforcement converged on the site and saw several individuals trying to make a run for it. Two suspects were immediately taken into custody and two others arrested following a brief search. One of the employees inside the facility was injured and had to be taken to an Oklahoma City hospital with unknown injuries. Investigators say they recovered a weapon. Four individuals ranging from 20- to 24-years old have been booked into the Grady County Jail and are being held on complaints of burglary and assault with a deadly weapon.

Chix Council to Get Update on Water Treatment Plant Plans

What's the latest news about a new water treatment plant for the City of Chickasha? Some information will be announced tonight as the city council will be getting an update from the firm that is engineering and designing the facility. The city obtained a multi-million dollar loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to finance the design, engineering, and construction of the plant. City voters approved a sales tax increase to pay for the note. The last report indicated that construction could start next year (2025).

Road project and road striping work also to be considered

The council will also consider a change to an inter-local agreement with Grady County regarding the Cottonwood Road overlay project, and will consider spending more than $55,000 for road striping work. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

ATV Driver Critical, Child Passenger Treated and Released After Crash

An ATV driver is critically injured in a weekend accident. It happened Saturday afternoon in Grady County between Minco and Union City. 36-year old Catherine Lepelley of Minco was giving a 10-year old girl a ride on the ATV when it went into a broad slide and rolled several times. While Lepelley had to be air lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital, the child was treated and released. Niether rider was wearing a helmet. The girl's name was not released.

Mesonet Website Discussion Set for Ag Producers

Grady County agriculture producers will meet tomorrow morning for the first of their two July meetings. Wes Lee, OSU specialist with the Oklahoma Mesonet weather website is the guest speaker. Producers meet at 7:00 a.m. on the first and third Tuesday of every month at the Grady County OSU Extension Office.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.78 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.26.

Natural gas is $2.56 per million BTUs.

Gold is 2,339 and silver is $29.49.

Obituaries

Caleb Johnson

Funeral service for Caleb Johnson, 21, was held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 1^st at the First Baptist Church of Anadarko. Arrangements were with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Loretta Atchley

A graveside service for Loretta Atchley, 88, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 3^rd at Fairlawn Cemetery. She worked at JC Penny and a drug store. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Janet Breedlove

A private memorial service was held for Janet Breedlove, 67. She worked at Canadian Valley Technology Center and Chickasha Roofing. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.

Kelly Elston

A private service will be held for Kelly Elston, 63, of Chickasha. She worked in the transportation industry. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Saturday, June 29th

Scam Suspect Arrested; Some Victims Get Their Money Back

We have more information about a driveway-improvement scam reported by Verden Police and the Grady County Sheriff's Office. Verden Police Chief Jason Cox said at least three individuals fell victim to the ploy and all initially lost thousands of dollars. Thankfully, they were able to get their money back after Cox and other investigators responded. Cox said he had one of the victims call the scammer to come back to talk about the project and police were waiting on him when he returned. The chief said he knows of at least one other victim who has not been able to get their money back. Authorities say the scammers were going door-to-door telling people they were doing work for the county and offered to improve their driveways. No formal charges have yet been filed against the suspect. Cox urges anyone who may have been contacted by the scammers to call Verden police or the sheriff's office.

Brush Fires Erupt in Triple-Digit Temps;

One Firefighter Treated for Suspected Heat Illness

Brush fires kept Grady County firefighters battling flames in the heat of the day yesterday. At least one fire fighter was transported to be treated for a suspected heat-related illness. The first call went out just before 3 p.m. in the Tabler area and another fire erupted around Pocasset. Crews from Naples, Ninnekah, Alex, Bradley, Friend, Pocasset, and Harold departments were all called out and mutual aid was provided by Dibble and Blanchard departments. Afternoon temperatures hit about 105 yesterday with the heat index up around 110 while crews beat back the flames. It wasn't clear if there was any property damage and there is no report on what might have sparked the flames.

Water Line Rupture Leaves Neighborbood Without Water

A Chickasha neighborhood is still without water this morning following a water main break. It is about a two-square block area in the 900 block of Frisco Avenue which is north of Choctaw Avenue. Crews were called out just before 5:00 p.m. Friday and believed a 20-inch water main had broken. It's not known how many households are affected nor how long repairs might take.

Cat Rescued from Storm Drain

A happy ending for a cat that was trapped in a storm drain. KOOL News went to check on the water line break at 9^th and Frisco Avenue early this morning and we found Joe Nixon and Billy Johnson working to get the cat out-

Nixon estimated the cat to be two or three years old.

Talk Show Topic

This week's guest on the KOOL Konversation is Destiny Lillich with the Oklahoma Blood Institute. There is a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

Obituaries

Loretta Atchley

A graveside serice for Loretta Atchley, 88, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 3rd at Fairlawn Cemetery. She worked at JC Penney and a drug store. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Kelly Elston

A private service will be held for 63-year old Kelley Elston of Chickasha. She worked in the transportation industry. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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