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Mollman Media News

2019, July 8-13

Saturday, July 13th

 

Murder Trial to be Set for Cyril Man              

A man accused of the shooting death of an individual in Lawton earlier this year will go to trial for murder. 28-year old Johnny Jones of Cyril was arrested after allegedly shooting two men in January. One of the victims died and a second was hospitalized. KSWO-TV reports that Jones has waived his right to a preliminary hearing in the case, clearing the way for the case to go right to trial. The trial will be scheduled at a formal arraignment later this month. A witness identified Jones as the trigger man in the shooting death of Joshua Seavert.

 

One Dead in Turnpike Crash              

A Blanchard man has died when his van crashes and flips over the concrete barrier on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. 27-year old Nickolas Harbison died in the accident that happened near Mile Marker 91 just northeast of Chickasha early Friday morning. The state trooper dispatched to the accident reports that Harbison was westbound on the highway when he ran off the road, over-corrected, and hit the concrete median. The van then rolled 2 1/2 times and flipped over the concrete barrier, and landed upside down in the eastbound lanes.

 

Women Faces Child Abuse Allegation              

A woman is charged with child abuse after allegedly trying to drag a teenager out of a house by her hair. 30-year old Amanda Rightmire was arrested by Chickasha police Thursday. Officers were dispatched to a home near Shannon Springs Park to investigate a 9-1-1 hang-up call. A probable cause affidavit filed by police indicates the teen had a large bump on her head and scratches on her collarbone, stomach, and hands. The document indicates a 9-year old boy in the home witnessed the confrontation. Prosecutors have filed a felony charge of child abuse against Rightmire. She is out of jail after posting a $10,000 bond.

 

Officer OK After Being Kicked by Suspect

A Chickasha police officer is OK after being kicked in the stomach by a woman believed to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Authorities were called out to a minor traffic accident near 17th and Tennessee early Friday morning. Officer Hayden Jarrett was dispatched to the scene. Two other officers were questioning a woman they say backed into a parked car. A probable cause affidavit indicates the woman became belligerent, and was placed inside a patrol car. When Hayden started reading her the implied consent for a field sobriety test, she starting kicking and yelling at the officer. Jarrett was kicked in the hand and stomach. The woman even broke the officer's body camera. In custody is 21-year old Marissa Leeann Bryce of Chickasha, who prosecutors have charged with a felony count of assault on a police officer, and misdemeanor counts of DUI and malicious injury to property. She remains in the Grady County Jail in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

 

Chickasha's EDC Director Resigns

After just over a year on the job, the director of Chickasha's Economic Development Council (EDC) has stepped down. Cody Mosley resigned from the panel this week. His resignation was accepted during a special meeting of the EDC’s board of directors yesterday. Mosley helped to create some new investment in downtown Chickasha, and credited a partnership between the EDC and City of Chickasha for doing so. Mosley said he hopes similar investment will continue.


              

Mosley says he has accepted a new job with the Oklahoma Career Tech Education system, where he will be working in workforce and economic development. EDC board chairman Jay Epperson said the search for a new director is already underway.

 

 

Talk Show Topic

Patti Davis with the Oklahoma Hospital Association is this week's guest on our KOOL Konversation. We have a link to the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

 

Friday, July 12th

 

Pursuit Ends with Arrest of Suspect with Criminal Record

An ex-con finds himself in more trouble with the law, after trying to elude police in a pursuit. The pursuit took place Tuesday afternoon, as Chickasha police attempted to pull over a motorist for what is believed to be a routine traffic stop. Details of the chase weren't immediately available, but officers were finally able to get the driver to stop. Authorities arrested 46-year old Ralph Junior Nixon of Blanchard on complaints which include eluding, reckless driving, having a broken windshield, and driving with a suspended license. Prosecutors have filed felony charges against Nixon that include endangering others while eluding, and having a firearm after felony conviction. Nixon has previous felony arrests for burglary, drug possession, and even escape from a penal institution. Nixon remains in jail on a $25,000 bond.

              

Co-Worker Accused in Alledge Sexual Assault              

Now a follow-up to a story we had yesterday about a man arrested on a sexual assault complaint. It's alleged that 21-year old Albert Justus Tarwater made an inappropriate advance towards a co-worker. A probable cause affidavit filed by Chickasha police indicates the assault occurred in the break room at the Goodwill store Tuesday afternoon. The victim told authorities that Tarwater's actions made her uncomfortable, and that she raised her voice and asked him to stop. The victim left the room and told the store manager. Police say video surveillance supports the victim's account of what happened. Tarwater remains in jail on a $250,000 bond.

 

Group to Protest in Lawton              

Another protest is scheduled in Lawton tonight, as Ft. Sill prepares to house unaccompanied migrant children now at the U.S. and Mexico border. Lights for Liberty: A Vigil to End Human Detention Camps will be held at Lawton's Shepler Park. The program will begin about 9:00 p.m. The Lawton Constitution reports that Lights for Liberty is a loose coalition of grassroots activists, with support from long-standing immigrants' rights organizations. A previous protest against the housing of the children was held by a different group last month.

 

Binger Police Get Body Cameras

In Binger, police officers will soon be wearing body cameras. Thanks to a grant from the Oklahoma Municipal Assurance Group, the Binger Police Department will be added to the long list of law enforcement agencies that now use the cameras. The nearly $5,000 grant allowed the department to purchase three cameras for officers. They'll be in use as soon as the cameras can be programmed.

 

Fairgrounds Hosts World Series of Team Ropers              

Team ropers from several states will be in Chickasha this weekend competing for thousands of dollars in prize money, and looking to qualify for a national competition later this year. The World Series of Team Roping has three days of competition at the Grady County Fairgrounds. James Watson is coordinating this weekend's event.


              

 

Teams are paying anywhere from $300 to $400 per event. There's an open event at 2:00 p.m. today, with roping starting at 9:00 a.m. Saturday and 8:00 a.m. Sunday. The group will be using both indoor arenas at the fairgrounds tomorrow at Sunday. The public is welcome to check out the competition at no charge.

 

Free Concerts in Chickasha Tonight, Tomorrow

There are a couple of free outdoor concerts in Chickasha this weekend. Tonight, USAO is hosting another Listen Local at the Greek event. Kansas City-based Victor and Penny will be performing their swing-infused, folk-jazz music with their trio, the Loose Change Orchestra. Bring your family, lawn chairs and blankets to tonight's concert at the Greek theatre, just off 16th and Grand. It starts at 7:30 p.m. Tomorrow night, the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce hosts its ongoing summer concert series. Performing will be Beau Jennings and the Tigers. Jennings won the international Woody Guthrie Folk Festival songwriting competition in 2017. He was nominated for a Heartland Emmy for his film about the life of Will Rogers which aired on public television stations across the country. There will be kid friendly events starting at 6:00 p.m. tomorrow night with face-painting and inflatables, and a food truck and beer vendor will be on hand. The concert will be held at 3rd and Chickasha Avenue and begins at 7:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.20.

London-based Brent crude is $66.52.

Natural gas is $2.42 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,408 and silver is $15.15.

 

 

Thursday, July 11th

 

Search Begins for New Chickasha School Superintendent              

The Chickasha school board is in no hurry to find a new permanent superintendent for the district. Former superintendent Jack Herron had his official last day on June 30th, after he and the board came to terms on a separation agreement. In the meantime, Jennifer Stegman, the district's assistant superintendent and chief financial officer is serving as the interim superintendent. School Board President Zack McGill says Stegman is being paid an additional $1,500 per month stipend along with her regular salary for the extra duties. McGill said the school board has contracted with the Oklahoma State School Boards Association to find candidates. McGill said the $7,500 fee is well worth the cost as the group will actively recruit candidates and hold community meetings in Chickasha to get input to try and find candidates who would be a good match. McGill said the opening will be posted in early September for six weeks before any interviews take place. McGill said it could be November or later before a new permanent superintendent is in place.

 

June Construction Projects in Chix Nears $2 Million

June was a good month for new construction in Chickasha. The city’s Community Development Department approved 20 building permits totaling nearly $2 million last month. In the commercial sector, Bruce Bates was approved to build a new truck repair building at U.S. Highway 81 and Pikes Peak Road. That will be a more than 12,000 sq. ft. facility at a cost of some $875,000. Grady Memorial Hospital was awarded a $250,000 building permit to construct some new business offices just north of the actual hospital. Bordwine Development was approved for a $150,000 project to build some retail shops at 420 West Grand Avenue, next to Joe's Maytag. The Double B RV Park in the 700 block of North 13th was approved for $172,000 in new construction, and a contractor for Arvest Bank was awarded a $75,000 permit to install a drive-up ATM which is currently under construction at 17th and Grand. In residential construction, a $150,000 remodel project was approved for a home at 101 Todd Estates. For the first six months of the year, new construction in Chickasha is just under $8.4 million. That compares to more than $17 million for the first half of 2018; $22 million in 2017; and $11 million in 2016.

 

Suspect Jailed in Sexual Assault Case

A suspect arrested in connection with a sexual assault investigation is in jail on a $250,000 bond. Chickasha police were dispatched to the 800 block of Grand Avenue Tuesday afternoon, where they arrested Albert Justus Tarwater. According to on-line court records, prosecutors have charged the 21-year old  Blanchard man with a felony count of sexual battery. Tarwater is scheduled to be back in court in two weeks to announce his attorney, and a preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for Aug. 7th.

 

Residents Oppose Plans for RV, Boat Storage Site

A Chickasha businessman is again facing opposition in his efforts to create an RV and boat storage facility. Several property owners who live near the proposed site were on hand to protest a re-zoning request for the facility at this week’s meeting of the Planning Commission. Kelly Boyd has been unsuccessful in his attempt to create the facility just north of 29th and Georgia over the last few years. City Planner Gene Winsett said that after a public hearing, the Commission voted to not recommend the re-zoning. The Planning Commission is only an advisory group. The re-zoning issue will go to the Chickasha City Council next month for a final decision.

 

Teen Hospitalized After Truck Roll-over

A Chickasha teenager was injured when the pickup he was driving ran off a county road and overturned. The unidentified 17-year old was taken by a private vehicle to a Norman hospital with arm injuries, where he was admitted in fair condition. A passenger in the truck, 18-year old Brittney Brown of Blanchard, was not hurt. The accident happened southeast of Amber just before 8:00 p.m. Tuesday. The trooper called out to the accident said the teenaged driver whose name was not released was traveling at an unsafe speed on a gravel road. Both occupants of the truck were wearing their seatbelts.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $60.43 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $67.01.

Natural gas is $2.44 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,423 and silver is $15.29.

 

 

Wednesday, July 10th

 

New Chix School Board Member Takes Oath of Office

A local businesswoman has been appointed to serve on the board of education for Chickasha Public Schools. Dr. Christy Clift was sworn in to office during last night's school board meeting. She has an optometry office downtown.

 

 

School board clerk Kelly O'Hair issued the oath. Clift fills the seat left vacant after the resignation of Doug Brown this past spring. She'll serve through next April.

 

Natural Gas Line Leak Found at CHS              

School officials hope to have a natural gas-line leak at the high school repaired by the time school starts next month. The school board declared an emergency in order to waive the competitive bidding process and find a contractor to get started on the project as soon as possible. A school employee discovered the leak and CenterPoint Energy has shut down the line, so there is no hot water at the high school right now. One school official estimated several hundred feet of pipeline may have to be replaced. Chickasha students will return to class on August. 15th.

 

Water Treatment Process to Change Briefly in August              

The City of Chickasha's water supply will be going through a change in the next few weeks. Officials at the water treatment plant will be temporarily changing the chemicals used to treat the water. Officials with U.S. Water Corporation - the city's private contractor for water treatment - will be switching over to a free-chorine addition for the month of August. Officials say this is done every summer to remove sediment that has built up over the last year. Residents may initially notice a 'swimming pool' like odor, taste, and cloudiness during the transition, but officials say the water will be safe to drink and use. Officials will be flushing water hydrants during this time, to help move the free chlorine through the system faster. USW officials say consumers who experience the initial changeover should run the tap water for a couple of minutes. The changeover will begin August 1st.

 

County Residents Selected to Leadership Oklahoma              

A couple of Grady County residents have been accepted into the next class of Leadership Oklahoma. Chickasha City Councilman and Vice Mayor Kimmie Loggins of HSI Sensing and Alex School Superintendent Jason James are among those selected for the 33rd annual class. 52 individuals will meet once a month for ten months to visit several communities to discuss social, environmental, and economic issues. Leadership Oklahoma was founded in 1986 and more than 1,600 individuals have taken part in the program.

 

Caddo County Author to Address Library Friends              

A monthly summer program by the Friends of the Chickasha Library offers you the opportunity to meet Oklahoma authors. For July, Caddo County rancher Pete Hammert will share some homespun stories and discuss his newest release, "Secondhand Cowboys, a Slice of Life in Early Day Anadarko, Oklahoma." The program will be next Thursday, July 18th, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Grady County Historical Society Museum in downtown Chickasha. Cost for the lunch is $10 and reservations are required by Monday, July 15th. For information, contact the Chickasha Library, or contact Jana Dabney by calling 405-824-5118.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $64.16.

Natural gas is $2.42 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,397 and silver is $15.15.

 

 

Tuesday, July 9th

 

Tense Discussion Held Regarding

Proposed Street Name Change

A discussion about re-naming a Chickasha street after civil rights pioneer Ada Sipuel had some tense moments during a work session of the Chickasha City Council last night. The sensitive issue of race relations in the city came into play. City Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander hoped that wouldn't happen. He wants the city as a whole to recognize the important work of Dr. Ada Sipuel-Fisher.

 

              

 

A proposal to re-name Idaho Avenue west of 4th Street to honor Sipuel was opposed by several residents and property owners. Many said there are better ways to honor her than to have a street named after her. Others complained that the one mile section of a street which currently bears her name is not enough to recognize her accomplishments. Several proposals were discussed during the hour-long work session, including building a monument or a statue in Sipuel-Fisher's honor at a local park;  naming a bridge on the H.E. Bailey turnpike in her honor, or naming part of the new Highway 81 bypass after her. No formal decisions were made during the work session. Future discussions are expected to be held.

 

Chix School Board May Appoint New Member              

A new member is expected to be sworn in to serve on the Chickasha Board of Education tonight. The panel will have an executive session to discuss appointing someone to fill the post left vacant when Doug Brown resigned in June. If a prospective candidate has been found, the individual will take the oath of office. The school board will also go behind closed doors to discuss the contract of interim superintendent Jennifer Stegman, and also review collective bargaining discussions with the Chickasha United Teaching Association and the Chickasha Association of Support Employees. The school board meets at 6:30 tonight at the school administration building. The school board held a special meeting yesterday to discuss the search for a new permanent superintendent, and the characteristics and criteria to be used for the search.

 

Film Crew to Visit Chickasha              

Chickasha was abuzz recently when actor Matt Damon was seen in town, said to be researching a role for an upcoming movie. Another Hollywood star may be coming to Chickasha later this month, to film part of an independent film that is in currently in pre-production. Reagan Elkins of Chickasha has a firm called Intellego Media said he is working with a production company as a location manager. Chickasha is one of several Oklahoma sites selected for filming. Elkins is working conjunction with the Oklahoma Film Commission. Elkins says there are several movies in various phases of filming right now in the Sooner State.

 

              

 

Elkins says he's not at liberty to say who may be in town. The Chickasha City Council last night approved the temporary closing of Sooner Road  from Grand Avenue south to Country Club Road next Wednesday, July 17th for the filming. As many as 50 production crew members are expected to be on hand.

 

USAO Names New Associate for Alumni, Fundraising

USAO has a new staff member to help with alumni development and fundraising. Sarah Stagg has been named Associate Director of Alumni and Development. Stagg earned a master's degree in higher education administration from OU and also earned a bachelor's degree in communication. According to a USAO press release, Stagg spent time in several departments while studying at OU, including graduate assistant for both the Student Life office and for the alumni association. She also served as an intern for Donor Engagement Services. At USAO, Stagg will serve as the point of contact for all development events and help direct annual fund solicitations. USAO Director of Development JP Audus said Stagg has a track record of success and will bring enthusiasm and a high level of professionalism to the university.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.66 per barrel.

London based Brent crude is $64.11.

Natural gas is $2.40 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,391 and silver is $15.04.

 

 

Monday, July 8th

 

Truck Fire Closes State Highway

A late-night truck fire shut down a state highway between Chickasha and Purcell last night. A semi hauling oil-based drilling mud caught fire on State Highway 39 near Dibble about 1:00 p.m. Sunday. The highway was closed for about 45 minutes just west of the Grady-McClain County line. Three units and five fire fighters from the Naples Volunteer Fire Department were called out to the blaze. Grady County Fire Department spokesman Buddy Myers says the driver reported hearing a "popping" noise similar to a tire blowout. The driver pulled over to check out the noise and noticed flames near the rear axle of the truck. Myers said the driver was not hurt and no hazardous materials were spilled. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

 

City Street Name Change Plan to be Discussed Tonight              

An informal work session of the Chickasha City Council is scheduled tonight, to discuss a proposal to re-name a city street. The group will discuss possibly changing Idaho Avenue to Ada Sipuel Avenue - from 4th Street west to 30th Street. Property owners along the route were mailed notices announcing the work session and seeking input on the suggestion. A proposal to more properly honor Ada Sipuel Fisher for her civil rights work in the first half of the 20th century has long been supported by City Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander. He says he's heard minimal opposition to the plan.

 

              

 

Ada Sipuel was the first black student admitted to the OU Law School, after a lawsuit against the university went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in her favor. The work session will be held at 5:30 p.m. today at city hall. Right after the work session, the council will have a special meeting to discuss the temporary closing of Sooner Road between Grand Avenue Extension to Country Club Road for one day later this month.

 

PSO Working on Future Power Plans              

Public Service Company of Oklahoma is going back to the drawing board when it comes to generating electricity for the future. PSO's Windcatcher program - which would have been the second-largest wind-power project in the country - was rejected by the State of Texas. PSO's Tim Hushbeck says the utility has sent out some request for proposals for alternative plans, and expects a new plan could be unveiled.

 

              

 

Hushbeck said with the new proposal, PSO would use much of its existing transmission lines.

 

New Substitute Teacher Workshop This Week              

Here’s a reminder that Chickasha schools will have an orientation for new substitute teachers for the coming school year. Candidates should bring a photo ID with Social Security Card and their bank's direct deposit information. Candidates need to have a high school diploma and will have to pass a background check. Substitute teachers can be former or retired teachers, college students, or anyone looking for flexible, part-time employment. The workshop will get underway at 8:00 a.m. Thursday, July 11th at the school administration office. For information, contact Whitney Molder at the office or by calling 405-222-6500.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $57.51

London-based Brent crude is $64.23

Natural gas is $2.41 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,407 and silver is $15.07.

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