Saturday, June 29th
Rush Springs Man Jailed Following Pursuit
A Rush Springs man is in custody after leading authorities on a high-speed chase on his motorcycle. We're just learning of the pursuit that happened last weekend, where police were trying to make traffic stop on a motorcycle on the Highway 81 bypass west of Duncan. The Lawton Constitution cites court records that indicate speeds during the chase topped 90 miles per hour as the biker headed west on Highway 7 toward Lawton, weaving in and out of traffic and forcing vehicles off the road. The perp ended up ditching his bike, and then tried to elude officers on foot, but officials were able to track him down and haul him back to the Stephens County Jail. 23-year old Michael James Petisca Brown of Rush Springs was charged with a felony for endangering others while attempting to elude after former conviction of a felony. He's also charged with driving with a suspended license. Brown is being held in the Stephens County jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond and has applied for a court-appointed attorney.
Woman Dies in Accident Near Ft. Cobb
A 19-year old Caddo County woman has died after her pick-up runs off a Caddo County bridge. Amy Diane Sells of Binger died in the crash that occurred before dawn Friday. The accident happened just after 4:30 a.m. and about eight miles north of Ft. Cobb. The highway patrol reports that Sells ran off a county road and over-corrected, hit a bridge guard rail and went off the bridge, with the truck landing upside-down. The trooper investigating the accident alleged Sells may have been under the influence of illegal drugs.
State Horse Group Competes in Chickasha
For those of you who enjoy working with horses, The Oklahoma Horse Show Association is in Chickasha today for one of its six competitions the group is holding in 2019. Jaclynn Gray of Edmond is the president of the group, which has about 200 members throughout Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Arkansas. Horsemen from as far away as Iowa also compete. About 90 individuals and as many as 140 horses will take part in today's event at the Grady County Fairgrounds. There are divisions for the young and young-at-heart, with one division for kids as young as five years old. There will be more than 70 different competitions, with riders looking to earn points toward an end-of-year awards ceremony. Admission is free, and there are numerous vendors on hand. The group will hold another competition at the Grady County Fairgrounds July 27th, one in October at the McClain County Expo Center in Purcell, and the season-ending competition will be back in Chickasha in November. Check out the group's website: www.okhsa.com
Talk Show Topic
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe is this week's guest on our KOOL Konversation. We have a link to the program under the Community tab on this website.
Friday, June 28th
New Superintendent Named for Tuttle Public Schools
A lot of heads are turning with the announcement of the new superintendent for the Tuttle Public School district. Keith Sinor, the former athletic director for Oklahoma City Public schools, was named the new superintendent earlier this week. The Oklahoman reports that Sinor brought millions of dollars to Oklahoma City through his fundraising efforts. Sinor was recently promoted to a new position created for him at Oklahoma City - Director of Athletic Partnerships and Program Support. Tuttle athletic programs have had a lot of success of their own over the last few years, including seven state championships in the last school year alone. Tuttle voters also just passed a $35 million bond issue that will include installing artificial turf on the football, baseball, and softball fields. Sinor takes over the superintendent's post from Bobby Waitman, who was recently named the new superintendent at Tishomingo.
Chix Police Lieutenant Earns Medal of Valor
A Chickasha police officer is honored for his work by the Oklahoma Association of Chiefs of Police. Lt. Traye Alexander was awarded a Medal of Valor at the group's annual state conference in Durant this week. A news release indicates that Alexander was selected for the honor for his bravery while negotiating with an armed suspect in extreme weather conditions. The situation ended peacefully. The Medal of Valor is the second highest award presented by the board of directors for the state police chiefs.
Group Seeks to Put Medicaid Expansion on State Ballot
A group which supports the expansion of Medicaid into Oklahoma is preparing an initiative petition effort which they hope will put the proposal on a statewide ballot. The group called Oklahomans Decide will need to collect the signatures of nearly 180,000 registered voters to put the measure on the ballot in November of 2020. The coalition includes doctors, hospitals, health care advocates, patients, and non-profit groups. Some 200,000 Oklahomans would benefit from Medicaid expansion. The group says many uninsured adults have jobs that don't come with health insurance. Those workers also earn too much to qualify for existing Medicaid, and too little to afford care on the health insurance exchange. If approved, supporters say it would bring more than $1 billion in funds back to Oklahoma. A press release from the group indicates that 36 states are taking advantage of the program. The federal government would provide 90 percent of the funding for the program. Under the plan, an individual with an income of less than $17,000 a year and a family of three with an income of less than $28,000 a year would qualify.
Early Independence Day Celebrations this Weekend
America is about to celebrate its 243rd birthday and some communities will be celebrating a few days early. Independence Day is July 4th, however Anadarko and Lindsay will both host activities tomorrow. Anadarko’s Honor America celebration will be held at Randlett Park. It will start with a 5K run in the morning, followed by three-on-three basketball tournaments, a rock wall, inflatable games, food trucks, vendors, live music, and ending with fireworks tomorrow night. Lindsay’s "Freedom Fest" activities start at noon at George Brown Park. There will be more than 50 vendors, live music, a dunk tank, inflatables, and the Marlow Gunfighters will cause trouble every hour. There's a petting zoo and Chickasha's Friends Fur Change will have a pet adoption. There's a day-night golf tournament at the golf course, with the second round of the tournament held after the fireworks.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.43 a barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $66.55.
Natural gas is $2.32 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,415 and silver is $15.27
Thursday, June 27th
Fee to Pick Up Tree Limbs Starts Next Week
Starting next week, the City of Chickasha will charge residents $50 if city crews are called out to pick up tree limbs and other brush. This has been a free service, but officials say the fee is needed to offset rising costs of labor and maintenance of the grapple truck that picks up the brush. It's one of several new fees that were approved recently by the city council. City Manager John Noblitt said residents can avoid the fee by using the free bulk pick-up service available from the city's private sanitation contractor, Waste Connections. The company provides two free bulk pick-up services for residents each month. It does include brush, although it must be tied into three-foot long bundles and about 18-inches in diameter. Noblitt said anyone currently needing tree limb pick-up services now will not be charged the new fee, as long as they call by the close of business tomorrow. New callers will be added to the current list and will not be charged, even if the brush can't be picked up until after the first of the month. Noblitt also said the fee would be waived after severe weather or ice storms cause widespread tree damage and during times of city-wide clean-up campaigns. You can call the city to get more information about the service by contacting the Public Works Department by calling 405-222-6080.
U.S. Senator Disputes Claims of Ft. Sill Protesters
A plan to house hundreds of unaccompanied migrant children at Ft. Sill drew a protest in Lawton last weekend. Oklahoma U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe says complaints that the children would be forced to live in conditions similar to prisoner-of-war-camps aren’t true.
We had a chance to talk with Inhofe earlier this week about the border crisis, the escalating tensions with Iran and other issues. Hear the interview in its entirety on our KOOL Konversation program this weekend.
Will Gasoline Prices Spike This Summer?
Could gasoline prices being going up in the near future? Fuel prices traditionally rise for the summer driving season but costs have not escalated much this year. Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission points to a problem that may cause a spike in the price we pay at the pump.
Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
Chix Schools to Host New Substitute Teacher Workshop
While students and teachers are enjoying summer vacation, you may find it hard to believe that classes for many schools will be back in session in six short weeks. The Chickasha school district is already looking for new substitute teachers for the upcoming year. An orientation for the new subs will be held in a couple of weeks. The workshop will be held on Thursday, July 11th at 8:00 a.m. in the school administration building at 900 Choctaw Avenue. Substitutes should bring an ID, Social Security card, and direct deposit information. For any questions, call the administration office at 405-222-6500.
Parents Urged to Limit Screen Time for Children
Kids may have a tendency to play more video games and watch more TV than they should during the summer. Beth Armstrong reports from Grady County OSU Extension that the added screen time could lead to health problems.
Armstrong says parenting specialists recommend kids take a break from screen time to play with friends outdoors, and to turn off the TV, phones, and video games while eating. They also say youngsters should not play video games in their bedrooms.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $59.38 a barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $66.49
Natural gas is $2.29 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,408 and silver is $15.31.
Wednesday, June 26th
Police Officer Allegedly Offered Teen Money for Sex
The Town of Cement is looking for a new police officer. That's after its only law enforcement official has been arrested for allegedly offering to pay a teenager for sex. 41-year old Stacy Don Burger was arrested Monday, following an investigation by the Chickasha Police Department. It's alleged that Burger met a 16-year old girl at her home and offered to pay her a lot of money for sex. Documents on file at the Grady County Courthouse say after the teen refused, Burger asked if she had any friends that might be interested. The teen told Burger he was sick. The affidavit indicates that Burger confessed. He's being held in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $100,000 bond. If convicted he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine. In the meantime, The Cement Board of Trustees met yesterday and fired Burger. The Caddo County Sheriff's Office is working to provide patrol and police services for the time being.
State Lawmaker Says Dems, GOP Often Work Together
Chickasha State Representative David Perryman says it took a joint effort of Democrats and Republicans at the state capital last year to raise the state's gross production taxes. His weekly media column is published on the website www.okenergytoday.com Perryman cites an ancient idea that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Perryman, a Democrat, said it’s not unusual for members of his party and those of the Republican majority to work with each other to solve problems. In a tumultuous legislative session in 2017, state lawmakers finally agreed to raise gross production taxes from 2 percent to 5 percent. Perryman said the oil and gas industry chastised Republican lawmakers for caving into the demands of the Democrats, and Democrats caught flak from constituents for not asking for a higher tax. In the end, Perryman said they managed to come up with a bi-partisan bill to provide sufficient revenue for education funding.
Chickasha Mourns Death of Longtime Community Leader
Chickasha is mourning the death of Jim Loy. Loy was one of the first administrators of what was then the Chickasha Clinic and Hospital on Choctaw Avenue in the mid-1950s. Loy passed away Monday at the age of 93. Loy was also deeply involved with the original construction of Grady Memorial Hospital, then spent several more years with the clinic, later re-named Southern Plains Medical Center. He served on local, state, and national boards, including the city council, school board, and chamber of commerce. He served several years with the Oklahoma Ethics Commission and was also president of the American Medical Group Management Association. Loy volunteered time with the Chickasha Public School Foundation and the USAO Foundation, the United Way, and Chickasha Jaycees. He was inducted into the chamber of commerce Civic Hall of Fame in 2016. Loy was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving at the end World War II. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chickasha Public School Foundation or the USAO Foundation.
STACK Play a Hot Bed for Marathon Oil
Marathon Oil Company is reporting more large-producing wells in the STACK. Four wells are jointly producing nearly 4,900 barrels of oil per day. The wells are all about 10 miles west of Okarche. Each of the wells is producing between 900 and 1,800 barrels of oil per day, and from 7,000 to 9,000 metric cubic feet of natural gas per day.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.83 a barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $65.05.
Natural gas is $2.30 per million BTUs.
Gold was down to $1,408 and silver is $15.34.
Tuesday, June 25th
Double-Organ Transplant Recipient Doing Well
An amazing story to tell you about regarding a Chickasha man who is a double-organ transplant recipient. Kyle Perry had a kidney and pancreas transplant last summer. Today, almost a year after the surgery which took place in Oklahoma City, Kyle says it's been years since he's felt this good.
Kyle says he lives about as normal a life as anyone. He does take anti-organ rejection medications and his doctor's visits are down to about once every three months. Kyle said he was able to meet with the donor's parents – who live in Nepal - in Dallas just a couple of months after the surgery.
Suspect Faces Child Prostitution Allegations
Grady County prosecutors have charged a Cement man with allegedly soliciting child prostitution. On-line court records indicate an arrest warrant was issued for 41-year old Stacy Don Burger on Monday. He was arrested and taken to the Grady County Jail. Those on-line records also indicate the arrest stems from an investigation by the Chickasha Police Department. No details about the investigation were available this morning. Burger could go before a judge to hear the formal charge against him today.
Distracted Driver Blamed on Crash
Two pickups collide near Elgin, sending two men to the hospital. The accident happened just before 2:00 p.m. Monday about three miles east of Elgin. 23-year old Trevor Vaughn of Windthorst, Texas was airlifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was last in serious condition. 72-year old Richard Vaughn of Fletcher was taken to a Lawton hospital where he was treated and released. The highway patrol did not indicate if the two men were related. The trooper dispatched to the crash said Trevor Vaughn may have been distracted prior to the crash and failed to stop at a stop sign, hitting the other pick-up.
Storm Damage to Sheriff's Office Nearly $10,000
The repair bill is in for damage done to the Grady County Sheriff's Office which occurred during one of the many thunderstorms that happened this past spring. Grady County Commissioners signed off a bid of nearly $10,000 from Oklahoma All State Roofing. Wind damage separated one of the radio towers from the two-story building, sending several large concrete blocks tumbling to the ground. No one was injured when the damage occurred.
Pesky Water Line Break Repaired
A water line break caused some headaches for some Chickasha residents and city work crews yesterday. The break was found in a residential area just north of 5th and Missouri Avenue Monday morning. Crews spent a couple of hours repairing the line, but were called back out when another problem developed. Crews were finally able to get the problem solved about 4:00 p.m. Monday.
Sinkhole Repair Progressing
Most of the repairs of a collapsed manhole and sewer line near Chickasha's First Baptist Church are completed. A sinkhole developed near 4th and Colorado Avenue three weeks ago as a result of recent heavy rains. Public Works Director David Buchanan said the manhole was very old and eroded by the rains. The manhole has been replaced, and rock that has been placed on top of the new sewer line is being allowed to settle before the roadway can be repaired. The State Department of Transportation is expected to put the final touches on the street repairs in the next few days. In the meantime, traffic on 4th Street is still down to one lane in each direction between Iowa and Kansas Avenues.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.90 a barrel.
London-based Brent crude is to $64.86.
Natural gas is $2.30 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,433 and silver is $15.49.
Monday, June 24th
U.S. Highway 81 Chickasha Bypass Update
The building of a U.S. Highway 81 bypass of Chickasha is closer now that it ever has been. Initial construction which would include clearing land and drainage work could start in two or three years. Jay Earp with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) says the agency is close to having all the right-of-way obtained for the bypass. Earp tells KOOL/RANCH News-
Earp says utility re-location will be starting soon and that ODOT has applied for a federal grant to help pay for the $250 million project. A previous grant request was denied. Earp says the project will include an additional set of bridges over the Washita River north of Chickasha.
Power Outages Linger After Sunday Storms
There are still a few scattered power outages as a result of strong thunderstorms that moved through the region on Sunday. The town of Lindsay was without electricity for about 12 hours after lightning hit a substation. Electricity was finally restored about 4:00 a.m. this morning. AT & T phone service was also out in Lindsay during much of that time. KWTV News 9 reports that 9-1-1 calls had to be re-routed to the Garvin County Sheriff's Office, which would then radio the information to Lindsay police. Oklahoma Electric Co-op reported about a dozen outages early this morning with most in the Garvin County area. There was one in Grady County and a couple in Stephens County.
State Jobless Rate Remains Low
Unemployment across the state remains at a very low level of 3.2 percent for the month of May. That's below the national jobless rate of 3.6 percent. The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC) reports that more than 1.7 million people were working last month, while 59,000 individuals were listed as unemployed. Sectors that experienced the largest growth in the number of jobs included trade, transportation and utilities with 500 more jobs; and government, which includes local, state, and federal agencies, also with a gain of 500 jobs. The leisure and hospitality sector had the biggest loss in jobs, down 1,800 positions from the previous month. County-by-county unemployment numbers will be released later.
Oklahoma's High-Tech Salaries Lag Behind Texas
Oklahoma's high-tech jobs are paying less than those south of the Red River. A new survey shows that while the Sooner State's high-tech salaries are increasing, they still trail those in the Dallas area by about $25,000 a year. The website www.business.org found that the average salary for a tech worker in Oklahoma City was just under $75,000 and similar jobs in Tulsa were about $74,000 for 2018. In Dallas, the average tech salary was more than $98,000 a year. The website found that annual tech salaries in Colorado Springs were about $90,000 and in Albuquerque about $85,000.
Low-Income Households May Apply Soon
for Help in Paying Summer Cooling Bills
Low-income families will soon be able to apply for help in paying summer cooling bills. The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) will begin accepting on-line applications for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) on July 9th. Funding for LIHEAP is provided by the federal government. DHS says eligible households which already receive assistance and are pre-authorized to receive LIHEAP don't have to apply. Households which receive DHS help but are not pre-authorized for LIHEAP have been notified by mail, and should apply on-line. The website is www.OKDHSlive.org
Applicants will need their most recent cooling bill information; identification, Social Security Number, and income verification. Only one payment per household is allowed each year for summer cooling assistance. A family of four is eligible for about $2,700.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.43 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $65.20.
Natural gas is $2.18 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,411 and silver is $15.47.
