Monday, Dec. 20th
Resignation 'Agreements' Approved
for Suspended Ninnekah School Administrators
Two administrators suspended from Ninnekah Public Schools who were implicated in the molestation scandal involving basketball players have had resignation agreements approved by the school board. The agreements for suspended superintendent Todd Bunch and high school principal David Pitts were approved last week following a closed door meeting of the board. Both Bunch and Pitts are among several defendants named in a federal lawsuit alleging the cover-up of sexual assaults of girls basketball players. The Chickasha Express-Star reported that the terms of the agreements weren't released. Both men were suspended by the school board earlier this year pending the outcome of an investigation into the allegations brought forth by several former basketball players who say they were assaulted by former coach Ron Akins. Akins is facing rape and sexual battery charges in connection with the allegations.
State Leads the Country in Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
Oklahoma leads the country in its number of marijuana dispensaries. With more than 2,100 dispensaries, Oklahoma has almost twice as many dispensaries as next two states combined. Oregon and California together have about 2,500 dispensaries. The study published in The Oklahoman shows there are more than 400,000 total medical marijuana licenses in the state which includes about 385,000 individual licenses. That's up from 365,000 last year and accounts for one in every 13 Oklahomans. The licenses also include nearly 9,500 growers; more than 1,700 processors; more than 100 transportation firms; and nearly 30 laboratories. The study shows that Grady, McClain, Garvin, and Comanche counties each have more than 200 medical marijuana facilities. The number of care-giver licenses was down from just under 2,600 last year to just under 2,000 this year. Medical marijuana tax revenue in Oklahoma has grown from $24 million in 2019 to more than $61 million so far this year (January through November). State and local sales tax revenues have grown from $30 million in 2019 to nearly $76 million in the first 11 months of this year. Nearly 60 percent of the tax revenue goes to disadvantaged public school districts as well as charter schools; about 35 percent goes to the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority for regulating the industry; and about 5 percent goes to the state health department for drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Any collections over $65 million will go into the state's general fund.
Two Hospitalized After Car Hits Tree
Two people were sent to the hospital - one with life-threatening injuries - after a car ran off the road near Dibble and hit a tree over the weekend. An unidentified 17-year old girl was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in critical condition. She was a passenger in a car driven by 21-year old Austyn Thomas of Lindsay. Thomas was taken by ground ambulance to a hospital where he was admitted in fair condition. The accident happened about six miles southwest of Dibble in McClain County just before noon Saturday. The highway patrol reports that Thomas was northbound on May Avenue when the accident happened. The trooper investigating the crash said some kind of distraction inside the vehicle was the cause of the crash.
HUD Sends $5 Million to Oklahoma Tribes
Several million dollars in COVID-19 relief funds have been awarded to tribal groups in Oklahoma. Each of five tribes will equally share $5 million which comes from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officials with the Apache and Kiowa Tribes say they'll use the money for housing upgrades and construction. Officials with the Apache Housing Authority said they will use the money to clean, modify, or replace air ducts in homes. They may also enclose garages to create extra bedrooms, renovate rental units, and even upgrade broadband infrastructure. Officials with the Kiowa Housing Authority said they'll use the funds to build as many as 14 new homes around Carnegie. Other Oklahoma tribes to receive the funds are the Seminole, Seneca-Cayuga, and Modoc Nation.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.83 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $73.52.
Natural gas is $3.69 per million BTUs.
Gold is $1,797 and silver is $22.35.
Obituaries
Mary Vananda
No service is scheduled for Mary Vananda, 80, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Frances Hackworth
A private graveside service for Frances Hackworth, 77, of Verden will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, December 21st at the Laverty Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Michael Jones
Funeral for 66-year old Michael Jones of Oklahoma City and formerly of Amber will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 21st at the Amber Mission Holiness Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
‘Angie’ Whitlow
Funeral for Angela ‘Angie’ Whitlow, 50, of Chickasha will be at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 22nd at Ferguson Funeral Home.
