Your News

2017,  December 26th - 30th     

Saturday, December 30th

DUI Checkpoint Arrests

Law enforcement picked up five people for drinking and driving and found several individuals with outstanding warrants during a DUI checkpoint in Grady County last night. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Nathanial Mackey says the arrests from the ENDUI campaign are preliminary numbers, and could change when all the agencies involved in the checkpoint turn in their numbers. Tuttle police, Grady County Sheriff's deputies, state troopers, and officers from the Chickasaw Nation's Lighthorse patrol set up the check point near the junction of Highways 4 and 37 east ot Tuttle last night. Three of the suspected DUI offenders were under 21. One was even alleged to have had a concealed weapon.

Man in Custody in Alleged Child Abuse Case

A Chickasha area man is behind bars, accused of injuring a toddler. 26-year old Corey Henderson was arrested by Chickasha police Friday morning, and is being held in the Grady County Jail on a complaint of child abuse by injury. Unconfirmed reports indicate a child was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. Neither Chickasha police nor the Grady County District Attorney's Office would comment. Henderson will remain in jail through the long weekend. He could have his initial appearance in Grady County District Court on the child abuse complaint sometime Tuesday.

Still No Arrests in Ft. Cobb Shooting Death

At last report, there have still not been any arrests in connection with the shooting death of a Ft. Cobb man on Christmas Day. 38-year old Wallace Bointy, Jr. died from a gunshot wound to his chest late Monday night. Ft. Cobb police asked the OSBI to help with the investigation. OSBI spokesman Jessica Brown says agents spoke with two women, and collected evidence from the area. Brown gave no details of what the evidence might be, nor if a weapon was found. Brown also said they were waiting on Bointy's official cause of death from the state medical examiner. The website On Demand Court Records shows that Bointy was arrested by Anadarko police in June of 2016 for felony assault with a  dangerous weapon. The case was dismissed when a witness failed to testify.

Alex Man Faces Assault Charge

A Grady County man is charged with felony assault and battery after his arrest this week. 32-year old Kevin Carl Braziel was arrested by Grady County sheriff's deputies Thursday afternoon. The circumstances regarding his arrest aren't known. An emergency protective order had just been approved against Braziel earlier that day. The website On Demand Court Records indicates Braziel recently completed a deferred sentence after pleading guilty to a 2014 misdemeanor assault charge. Braziel remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of $16,000 bond. He's to announce his attorney Jan. 25th, and a preliminary hearing conference is set for Feb. 7th.          

Medicaid Cuts Reversed

SoonerCare patients get a reprieve from provider rate cuts that were supposed to go into effect next week. The Oklahoma Health Care Authority reversed provider rate cuts in a special meeting yesterday. The action was taken after state lawmakers approved a more than $17 million emergency funding measure. The Health Care Authority was one of three state agencies whose budgets were drastically cut when the Oklahoma Supreme Court overturned a cigarette tax that was supposed to bring in millions for health care. The news is not all good however, as the agency only has enough money to operate through April. Lawmakers will still have to figure out what to do for May and June, the final two months of the fiscal year.

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Marlow Mayor Brad Boles is this week's guest on our KOOL Konversation. Boles is one of two Republican candidates running for House District 51. There is a link to the program on this website under the Community tab, so you can listen to it whenever you want.

Friday, December 29th

OSBI Investigates Ft. Cobb Homicide

The OSBI is leading an investigation into the shooting death of a man in Caddo County on Christmas night. 38-year old Wallace Bointy, Jr. was found with a gunshot wound to the chest late Monday outside a home in Ft. Cobb. The Ft. Cobb Police Department asked the OSBI to help with the investigation. The OSBI's Facebook page indicates that a couple of women told investigators they were inside the home late Monday, and heard a noise outside. When they went to see what it was, they found Bointy on the ground. As of late Thursday, no suspects were in custody. If you have information that can help authorities, contact the Ft. Cobb Police Department, Caddo County Sheriff's Office, or the OSBI.

Task Force Plan Would Eliminate Local College Regents

A proposal that would remove local control of some Oklahoma colleges and universities is facing opposition. USAO is among those that could be affected. A higher education task force is recommending that USAO and some two-year colleges be directed by a regional board of regents such as the OU Board of Regents or the OSU and A and M Colleges Board of Regents. USAO president John Feaver says it’s an issue that comes up from time to time.

Officials with the task force believe the unification would better serve students, but some say it could lead to an increase in tuition.

Police Officers Earn Awards

Three Chickasha police officers are awarded the police department’s highest honor. The Medal of Valor was presented to Sgt. Matthew Schoolfield, Officer Daniel Ramirez, and Lt. James Weidenmaier in a recent ceremony. Schoolfied, Ramirez, and Training Officer Colton Weger were presented Police Shields for being wounded in the line of duty. Weidenmaier and Cpl. Lauren Matthews were presented life-saving awards. Master Sgt. Jason Myrko was named Officer of the Year, Laura Miller was named the department's Civilian Employee of the Year. Citizen commendations were awarded to Chris and Lindy Holder, and Clark VanDyck. The awards were posted on the police department's Facebook page.

New Finance Officer Joins Chickasha City Hall

There is a new face at Chickasha City Hall. Mary Fuqua is the city’s new chief financial officer. City Manager John Noblitt says she brings a wealth of experience to city hall. Fuqua is a Certified Public Accountant who previously worked as associate finance director in Utah. She’s an Oklahoma native who operated her own CPA firm in Yukon. She does have municipal government experience as finance director and assistant city manager in Frederick. Fuqua holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Oklahoma State. The city has been without a finance person since Gina Snedeker retired more than a year ago.

Officials Look to Take Down Drinking Drivers

Some regional law enforcement groups are joining forces to find individuals who may be drinking and driving. A DUI checkpoint will be established somewhere in the Tuttle area tonight. Tuttle police, the Grady County Sheriff's Office, Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Chickasaw Nation’s Lighthorse Patrol are taking part in an ENDUI campaign. Tuttle police officer Andrew Graham.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration are also helping with the campaign. Those agencies provide the funding for overtime pay for law enforcement officers working the checkpoint.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX climbs to $59.84 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is up to $66.72

Natural gas jumps to $2.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,299 and silver is $16.92.

Thursday, December 28th

New Information Released on Reported Kidnapping

Court documents reveal details of a man arrested for kidnapping in rural Grady County yesterday. 35-year old Steven Gene Loyd of Cement has been formally charged with felony kidnapping and two drug-related misdemeanors in connection with the incident. He remains in jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. Documents filed in Grady County District Court indicate Ninnekah police and a sheriff's deputy were called to a home early Tuesday morning, where it's alleged a woman and her child were being held against their will. The mother managed to send a text message to a neighbor asking her to call 911. The mother and child managed to escape the home through a bedroom window. The man was suspected of being on meth, and said he was trying to protect the woman and child from people he thought were in the home. Loyd was awaiting court appearance on charges of felony child neglect and other drug charges filed just three months ago.

Gunfire Erupts in Assault Case

Also, a follow-up to a Christmas Eve assault at a Chickasha home we reported Wednesday. Court documents indicate a gun was fired in the home when a fight erupted between two men. No one was injured by the gunfire. One of the men managed wrestle a gun away from the other and hit him in the head with it. One man suffered bites on his hands and arms while the other suffered head injuries after being hit with his own gun. Police arrested 41-year old Willie Lee Pippins, who has been formally charged with a felony for pointing a firearm, and a misdemeanor for assault and battery. Pippins is being held in the Grady County Jail pending a $50,000 bond.

Machete Case Goes to Trial

A Caddo County man is bound over for trial in connection with a vicious machete attack on his on-again, off-again girlfriend. 39-year old Ralph Dimitri Ramnarine, Jr. of Carnegie pleaded not guilty to felony charges of assault and battery with a deadly weapon and maiming in Caddo County District Court yesterday. He has previous convictions of at least two felonies. The case was scheduled for the Jan. 17th felony disposition docket, and Ramnarine remains in jail in lieu of a $1 million bond. Authorities allege Ramnarine climbed through a window of the woman's home while she was sleeping, and attacked her with the machete. She suffered serious facial injuries in the attack.

Grady County Receives est. $4 Million in Sales Tax Revenue

We told you yesterday about recent sales tax receipts for Grady County. Today, we have a little closer look at what a 3/4 of a penny sales tax has brought in to the county for all of 2017, and the amount of money going to the projects that received voter approval for that revenue. Nearly $4 million in sales tax revenue were received for the entire calendar year. The Grady County Fairgrounds received about half that total, about $1.9 million, which will pay for the climate-controlled indoor arena that was just opened this past summer. Grady Memorial Hospital receives about $1.8 million for the construction of its new surgery wing and imaging center, which is now projected to open around the first of March. Each of the county’s seven senior nutrition centers collected about $140,000; and each of the 20 fire districts received about $50,000. Tuttle Emergency Medical Services picked up about $200,000 and Rush Springs EMS about $45,000.

Teen Hurt in SUV Rollover

A teenager injured in a rollover accident east of Lindsay yesterday. The unidentified 16-year old girl from Maysville was hurt when the SUV she was driving ran off the road, crashed through a fence and rolled 1 1/2 times. The teen suffered neck and shoulder injuries, and was last in fair condition at a Norman hospital. The Highway Patrol said the teen was wearing her seatbelt and that  driver inexperience was the reason for the crash.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX was lower to $59.64 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude down to $66.44.

Natural gas up to $2.74 per million BTUs.

Gold was up to $1,294 and silver up to $16.84.

Wednesday, December 27^th

Grady County Consumer Spending Down Slightly; Still Good

Consumer spending in Grady County was down slightly in the most recent reporting period. The numbers for October are down one-half of one percent from September to October, to around $80 million. The number is up drastically from October of last year by more than 37 percent. We estimate consumer spending when we see the sales tax revenue for the county, and factor in the sales tax rate. Grady County collected nearly $600,000 in sales taxes this month, collected from the retail sales from October. Sales tax numbers have been right around $600,000 in each of the last five months. Here's where the money goes, as voted on by county residents. The Grady County Fairgrounds gets $198,000; Grady Memorial Hospital receives $175,000; 20 fire districts share in $100,000 so each receives about $5,000; seven senior nutrition centers share $100,000 with each getting $14,000; Tuttle EMS receives $18,000 and Rush Springs EMS receives $4,500. Use tax collections nearly doubled from the same time last year, up to $135,000. Use taxes are those collected on Internet purchases.

Chickasha Consumer Spending Good as Well

For the City of Chickasha, consumer spending in October is up more than 7 percent compared to the same time last year, to about $23.6 million. Sales tax revenue for Chickasha this month was $886,000. Use tax collection was also up in Chickasha, growing about 24 percent to $66,000.

Christmas Eve Fire Destroys Anadarko Home

A fire has left an Anadarko family homeless. Patty Chasenah and a number of family and friends were celebrating Christmas Sunday evening, when neighbors alerted them to the fire in their roof. Chasenah says fire officials told her an electrical problem started the blaze. While the home was damaged beyond repair, no one was hurt, and they managed to save all the children's Christmas presents. KWTV News 9 reports the Apache Tribe is helping the family, allowing them to stay in a local motel. Anadarko schools and the First United Methodist Church are accepting donations for the family.

Suspect in Custody in Alleged Kidnapping

We don't have a lot of details, but a Cement area man is arrested on a kidnapping complaint early this morning. 35-year old Steven Gene Loyd was arrested by a Grady County Sheriff's deputy and booked into jail about 3 a.m. Loyd had just been arrested in September on felony counts of child neglect, cultivation of a controlled substance, and having a firearm after conviction. He was out of jail on bond, awaiting a preliminary hearing conference on those charges in February.

Arrest Made in Reported Assault

Chickasha police are investigating a Christmas Eve assault where one man was arrested. Over the weekend, police were called to a home in the 1100 block of Florida on a domestic assault report. 41-year old Willie Lee Pippins was taken into custody on complaints of pointing a firearm, having a firearm while intoxicated, obstructing an officer, and domestic abuse. He remains in jail pending his initial appearance.

ElderCare Workshop Set 

A lot of people care for elderly relatives, though many say they don't have enough information to properly care for them. A one-afternoon workshop is coming up next month that may help. Caregiving 101 is a program developed within Oklahoma State University. Susan Routh is with Grady County OSU Extension.

The program will be Tuesday, Jan. 23rd at the Grady County Fairgrounds Community Building, starting at 1 o'clock that afternoon. Contact the Grady County Extension Office for more information.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.97 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude up to $67.02.

Natural gas down to $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,290 and silver is $16.70

Tuesday, December 26th

Major oil and gas investments projected in Grady County!

FieldPoint Petroleum Corporation is engaging in the acquisition, development, and operation of oil and natural gas properties in the Chickasha Fields.According to American Assets Investment Management , they increased Noble Energy stakes by 150%. The company properties have a market cap of $2.13 million that include Apache Field, Chickasha Field, and West Allen Field, and interests in 462 gross wells in the US. The American Assets Investment Management LLC holds 50,000 shares in Noble Inc. with a $1.42M value, up from 20,000 last quarter increasing $0.09 during the last trading session, reaching $28.79 per share. As projected many Oil and Gas corporations are investing in Grady County. Translating to more jobs in the near future.  For more information go to kgazette.com.

DUI's

Since last Thursday, the Grady County detention center has logged in 4 DUI Arrests and Several people charged with possession, and - or assault. Law enforcement is no doubt looking for impaired drivers, with the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign. Officials encourage those who may be attending holiday parties where alcohol is served o be smart, and think ahead … Get a designated driver, or you could be… bring in the New Year behind bars!

Gov Fallin Signed 44 million to Medicaid and human services Friday

Gov. Mary Fallin signed two measures providing about $44 million to meet the budgets state Medicaid, and human services agencies. The House unanimously approved 2 bills,

one to appropriate $17.7 million to the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the other providing $26.5 million to the Department of Human Services all before the temporarily recess of Legislature's second special session.

Opioids in Oklahoma are dropping Life expectancy Stats in the US.

According to the CDC and National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), accidental deaths from the prescription and illicit opioids have declined life expectancy to just above 78 years old,

down from almost 79 in 2015. If you have unused medications, No Question disposal drop boxes are located at The CPD, and the Grady County Jail 24/7, Also during work hours at Cedar Springs Pharmacy Tuttle, Chickasha Clinic Pharmacy, Grand Care Pharmacy and Liberty Drug Pharmacy. The leading causes of death in the US is still heart disease and cancer,

but the opioid epidemic is taking a heavy toll.

is coming to our region. Chickasha planner, Gene Winsett, said the company submitted a building permit application at city hall Friday to renovate the old Staples Store on South 81. The city, and Economics Development Council have been working with (All-dee’s) Aldi’s Officials for at least six months on the project. The company is headquartered in Illinois and originated in Germany in 1961. The first U.S. store opened the same year, and now (All-dee’s) Aldi’s operates sixteen hundred stores in thirty-five states, with twenty-five thousand employees. Winsett, went on to say (All-dee’s) Aldi’s contractors have applied for a two-million dollar permit to renovate the location. The building permit is expected to be issued next month. Work will begin soon in the New Year, but no timetable on when the store may open.

Funeral services for Connie Louise Duncan, 67, of Chickasha, will be held Thursday, at 10:30 in the Ferguson Funeral Home Chapel.  She worked as a caregiver for local families, and in home health Care. She received several awards for her volunteer work with the Washita Valley Head-start, and Grand Avenue School, helping children read. Interment will be in Fairlawn Cemetery under the direction of Ferguson Funeral Home.

USAO Selects Duncan tennis coach Phil Barnes into the Hall Of Fame. Coach Phil Barnes is being honored in January, enshrining him into the USAO Athletic Hall of Fame at the Drovers first home basketball game. Reception is at 2:30 Jan. 6 at the Regents Room, and the ceremony starts at 5 during the men’s game. Barnes, a USAO graduate of 1982, won 30 Matches, and is the first tennis player in the Hall of Fame.

In OU Basketball

Oklahoma takes on TCU Saturday afternoon at 1 on ES PU

In Bowl games …

Today 

02:30 in the afternoon Heart of Dallas Bowl, West Virginia vs Utah on ESPN

06:15 in the evening the Quick Lane Bowl where Duke vs Northern Illinois on ESPN

10 at night The Cactus Bowl where UCLA vs Kansas State on ESPN

In OSU sports

The OSU Band is on its way to Orlando!

Seven charter buses and 320 students lined up at 11 Christmas Morning

 to take the Cowboys band to the… Thursday evening 06:15 game between

Oklahoma State and Virginia Tech at the Camping World Bowl…. Aired on ESPN

In OU Football

The Rose Bowl airs Monday evening Jan 01 at 6

Between the #2 Oklahoma sooners and #3 Georgia bulldogs on ESPN.

In Pro Basketball tonight

Our Thunder battled the Houston Rockets last night winning 112 to 107

And take on the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night at 7 on FS OK

Get TuneIn and hear our unique music blend anywhere you go.

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