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. 1st 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. 16th. 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. 2nd 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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