Saturday, Oct. 5th
Chix Neighborhood Without Water Several Hours Friday
Dozens of homes in Chickasha's Sleepy Hollow addition spent much of Friday afternoon and last night without water. The outage occurred when a utility company installing fiber lines ruptured a city water line. Authorities were hoping to get water restored before nightfall but were unable to do so. One resident in the area told RANCHNews water service was restored just after midnight.
State to Get Fed Funds to Build Electrical Transmission Line
Oklahoma will be the beneficiary of millions of dollars in federal funds that will be used to build a 400-mile electrical transmission line. the U.S. Department of Energy approved more than $300 million for what will be known as the Cimarron Link, running across the northern part of the state from the Panhandle to the Tulsa area. It's part of a project to strengthen the nation's electricity grid. The website OK Energy Today reports it is part of a nearly 1,000-mile transmission facilitation program which was supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law administered by the Department of Energy's Grid Deployment Office. The entire 1,000-mile project will reportedly create more than 3,600 construction jobs and 20 permanent operations jobs. The website said the project is very similar to one proposed by American Electric Power (AEP) the parent company of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) a few years ago. Texas regulators denied approval of that plan in 2018 and AEP canceled the project.
Duncan Rural Water Non-Profit Gets More Federal Funds
More federal funds are coming to a national group based in Oklahoma which helps get rural areas across the county access to clean water. More than $27 million has been awarded to the National Rural Water Association based in Duncan. It will allow the non-profit group to distribute capital assistance, technical assistance, energy assessments, disaster aid, and provide short-term financing to rural water districts nationwide. The funding is provided through USDA'S Water and Waste Disposal Technical Assistance and Training Grants and the agency's Water and Waste Disposal Revolving-Loan Fund.
Talk Show Topic
Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Kenneth Corn with the USDA Rural Development office is on our KOOL Konversation discussing that multi-million dollar federal grant issued to the National Rural Water Association in Duncan. Find podcasts of the program under the Community tab on this website.
Obituaries
June Jackson
Funeral service for June Jackson, 94, will be at 1:00 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7th at Sevier Funeral Home. She and her husband Mike owned and operated Jackson Horse Trailers. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry or the Chickasha Soup Kitchen.
Bobby Fritz
A memorial service for Bobby Fritz, 50, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12th at Parkview Christian Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to The Mission Food Bank in Norman.
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Friday, Oct. 4th
Motorcyclist Dies After Hitting Animal
A Chickasha man died after the motorcycle he was riding hit an animal. 70-year old Timothy Novotny died after his Harley Davidson hit a hog that was crossing Highway 81 about 1/2 mile north of Rush Springs. The accident happened just after 8:00 a.m. Thursday. The highway patrol reports that Novotny was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Novotny was wearing a helmet.
Two Face Animal Cruelty Charges
Two people are charged with animal cruelty after a number of dogs were found to be in poor condition in Amber. Police were asked to investigate allegations of animal neglect and officers went to the home Sunday. They found several dogs that appeared to be malnourished, one appeared to have a broken leg, some had mange, and were infested with fleas. Court documents indicate the suspects told investigators they didn't know what was wrong with the dogs and they didn't have money to take them to a veterinarian. Authorities arrested 39-year old Jessica Hunt and her boyfriend 36-year old Canon Wade Luney on animal cruelty and neglect complaints. Both have been formally charged with felonies of animal cruelty and Luney was also charged with a felony for having meth. Both are out of jail after posting bonds of $5,000. Both are to be back in court for preliminary hearing conferences next week. Four dogs were taken to a veterinarian who said on a scale of 1 to 9 the dogs were rated to be a 2 or 3.
Lt. Gov. Addresses Tourism Summit
Tourism officials from across the state met in Chickasha yesterday to get ideas on how to bring more visitors to their communities. Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell was on hand for the meeting of the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association. Pinnell said that tourism is the third largest industry in the state behind energy and agriculture. He said attractions like Chickasha' Leg Lamp, festivals, and even baseball and softball tournaments bring visitors to Oklahoma who spend money.
Pinnell said that spending generates sales tax revenues which helps communities pay for fire and police protection and infrastructure improvements.
What's Happening in Chix This Weekend?
There will be another influx of visitors to Chickasha this weekend for several events. The Muscle Car Ranch will host its annual TwisterFest tonight and tomorrow. The event includes live music, a classic truck show, and professional wrestling. Numerous bonfires will light up the ranch both nights. Roy's Barbecue will be in the historic Bree's Diner and H-Tea-Oh in the Bee Trail Diner. RV and primitive camping are available. See the TwisterFest Facebook page for information.
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A group from Virginia will be in town Sunday to visit the Verden Separate School. The school is part of a Black History Tour of Oklahoma. The school which was built in 1915 is the only surviving one-room school house in southwest Oklahoma. It served as a school for Verden's African American students under the separate-but-equal doctrine in the early part of the 20th century. Several years ago the school was moved from a farm south of Verden to its current location at Genevieve Street and Ada Sipuel Avenue.
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The Gypsy Horse Association will be at the Grady County Fairgrounds tomorrow and Sunday. This is the last of three shows held by the group and it is the championship show for Region One. There will be Halter, English, Hunter, Western, Trail, Ranch, and Driving classes. There are several age groups including children, teens, open, and amateur divisions. Shows will start at 8:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.46 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $78.36.
Natural gas is $2.96 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,678 and silver is $32.28.
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Thursday, Oct. 3rd
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell to Make Chickasha Stop Today
Oklahoma Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell will be in Chickasha today to host a state tourism summit. He'll be the keynote speaker for the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association's meeting that will be held at the Rock Island Railroad Depot today. Members of the association will hold a board of directors meeting this morning with the summit this afternoon. There are two education sessions, one of which is called 'A Leg Lamp, Really?' to talk about the role that Chickasha's newest landmark has on economic development for the community and how communities and economic development tie into tourism strategy. A second session will include representives from across the region and Chickasaw Nation to discuss creating partnerships to market tourism. Jim Cowan with the Chickasha chamber of commerce and the city's economic development council is the vice chair for the Travel industry group. The chairwoman is Jennifer Thornton who leads the Visit Edmond tourism group.
New Chickasha Police Officer Takes Oath
A new officer has been sworn in to serve with the Chickasha Police Department. Ryan Pape has joined the force after working for about a year as a detention officer with the Grady County Jail. Pape was born in Texas but grew up in Ringwood, Oklahoma. He moved to the Blanchard area about a year ago. Pape said he wanted to be a police officer to support the community and citizens in their times of need and to be a role model for kids.
Historic Chix Hotel Remodeled into New Restaurant
Chickasha's newest restaurant has been holding a soft opening over the last few days to test the waters before its grand opening. The Savoy 1902 Barbecue and Deli is in downtown Chickasha and has a full menu of barbecue, chicken, salads, and sides. It's been a year-and-a-half in the making as developer Chet Hitt began renovations after purchasing the more than 120-year old hotel in December of 2022. Hitt tells the Southwest Ledger its been an expensive project at more than $1.3 million. It has about 15,000 sq. ft. of floor space and can seat about 80 patrons. A 20-foot bar built in the 1800s is on the west wall has about a dozen bar stools. A new smoker on the east wall is about 11 feet wide, five feet high, and six feet deep.
Humor Highlights Fall Chickasha Theatre Production
The Chickasha community theatre opens its weekend run of the hiliarious comedy, Dearly Beloved. It's described as an over-the-top wedding with three feuding sisters and a church full of small-town eccentrics. It's a fast-paced, laugh-a-minute performance which is a Southern-fried Jones Hope Wooten creation about love, marriage, sisterhood, and three hundred pounds of Texas barbecue. Our own Don Collett is part of the show. Performance times are 7:30 tonight, tomorrow night and Saturday night and a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.54 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $75.30.
Natural gas is $2.92 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,664 and silver is $31.78.
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Wednesday, Oct. 2nd
Family Escapes Uninjured After Fire Destroys Their Home
A Grady County family manages to escape an early-morning fire that destroyed their home. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said the call came in just before 1:00 a.m. at the home located about two miles east of Chickasha on CR 2870 and south of Highway 62. Volunteer firefighters from Friend, Naples, and Ninnekah as well as the Chickasha Fire Department were dispatched. Crews were on the scene for nearly five hours as crews wrapped up their work just before 6:00 a.m. Several adults were in the home when the fire started but Gregory said they all were able to get out with no injuries. Gregory said the fire started when a pick-up that pulled up next to the home caught fire and spread to the house. About 15 firefighters and 10 fire trucks were called out and he estimates they used about 30,000 gallons of water. Gregory estimated the loss at $200,000. He did not release the names of those who were in the home.
CHS Students Asked to Take Random Civil Rights Review Survey
Chickasha school officials say the district has been randomly selected for a civil rights review by the State Department of Career Technology and Education. A post on the Chickasha Schools Facebook page says the district has done nothing wrong and no complaints have been filed against any school or the district. The post indicates it is a random review that Career Tech officials conduct to ensure schools are compliant with the law. The post also says that Chickasha High School students will be asked to complete a short survey asking about their knowledge of Career Tech opportunities; help available for special needs students; and how they can report bullying and harassment. Officials say the survey is anonymous and voluntary and students are asked to consider taking part in the survey although they don't have to. They won't be asked to provide personal information like their name or address.
Chix School Students Participate in Nat'l Walk-to-School Day
Today is National Walk to School Day and students from a couple of Chickasha schools are participating. Grand Elementary students will meet on the west side of Shannon Springs Park about 7:30 a.m. and take the estimated four-block walk to school. Students from the Lincoln School Intermediate Center will meet at the Leg Lamp about 8:00 a.m. will also walk four or five blocks to school. Teachers, parents, and volunteers will be assisting.
Two Inducted ino Grady County 4H Hall of Fame
A number of Grady County 4Hers were recognized for their work over the past year during the annual 4H Achievement Banquet held this week. Nearly 280 awards were presented and two 4Hers were inducted in to the Grady County 4H Hall of Fame. Abby Pettijohn from Alex 4H and Shane Williamson from the Rock Island 4H Club were so honored. Their portraits will be displayed at the OSU Extension Office for two years and both will receive a monetary award when they graduate from high school.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.91 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $75.57.
Natural gas is $2.93 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,674 and silver is $31.76.
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Tuesday, Oct. 1st
USAO to Celebrate Half-Century of Name Change
2024 marks a milestone year for the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO). It marks the 50th anniversary of the re-naming of the school. USAO is actually the fourth name for the institution since its creation in 1908. It was initially called the Oklahoma Industrial Institute and College for Girls. Four years later in 1912, the name was changed to the Oklahoma College for Women and it would be known as OCW for the next 43 years. In 1965 there was another name change as it became known as the Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts (OCLA). Nine years later in 1974 it was re-named USAO. A 'golden era' celebration of the name change will take place during Homecoming Weekend next month.
Former OCW Student was Part of NASA's Early Space Program
USAO president Kayla Hale spent some time in Washington, D.C. recently to attend the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony honoring the contributions of women to the NASA space program. She learned that a former student of OCW was selected as the first woman to undergo astronaut testing in 1959 in the infancy of the space age. Jerrie Cobb attended OCW in 1948 and would go on to train to be the first woman to fly in space. She was the only woman to successfully pass all three phases of the Mercury astronaut tests. Though she was denied the opportunity to go to space she spent 55 years in the field of aviation and was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Food Truck Championship Winners
We have the results from the Oklahoma Food Truck Championships from the past weekend. The Taco Station was the overall winner and claimed the top spot in the Savory Division. Runner-up in the Savory category was K and K Barbecue. In the sweet division, Ricky's Sweets and Eats was the winner with Mamma Lama Sweets in second. Mamma Lama also had the most creative entry overall. The fan favorite was Five-Star Barbecue.
Chocolate Celebration Tonight at Anadarko Library
Everything is coming up chocolate in Anadarko today. The Friends of the Anadarko Community Library will host their annual Chocolate Celebration. They are calling it ChoctoberFest, with attendees choosing from some 1,500 servings of the decadent dessert. Each of about 15 tables will have about 125 servings of chocolate to choose from. Librarian Teresa Ferguson tells how the Friends of the Library uses the money raised-
Tickets are $7 and each ticket allows for six servings of chocolate to be chosen. There will also be an auction of items like cakes, pies, and plates of brownies and cookies. Doors open at 5:00 this afternoon and the event runs from 5:30 to 7 o'clock or so.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.66 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $71.24.
Natural gas is $2.90 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.65.
Obituaries
Virgie Hensley
Funeral service for Virgie Hensley, 91, of the Verden and Chickasha area will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2nd at Sevier Funeral Home.
Pearl Tims
A memorial service for Pearl Tims, 84, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Oct. 2nd at First Baptist Church. She and her husband Johnny spent their lives in the ministry. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Reta Lister
A private memorial service will be held for Reta Lister, 72, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
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Monday, Sept. 30th
New Chix Airport Hangars are in Demand
Some new hangars recently built at the Chickasha Municipal Airport are already in use. Two 75' X 75' box hangars and a 10-unit T-hangar are now available. Airport Manager Darren Martin said one of the box hangars has already been leased and there is interest in the other. Pilots can lease units in the T-hangar to store their airplanes. Martin said officials from a state office will be on hand in a few weeks to help the city hold a grand opening-
Martin said the city received grants from the State Department of Aviation and Aerospace (ODAA) as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to build the hangars. Martin also said some recent changes made to the airport trust indenture that received narrow approval by the city council will also help the city develop an industrial park built next to the airport several years ago. The site has a paved road and utilities installed.
More Rural Broadband Grants Awarded
More rural areas of Oklahoma will be connected to broadband service over the next few years. The Oklahoma Broadband Governing Board awarded nearly $160 million in ARPA grants to a number of Internet Service Providers (ISPs) last week to help them build the infrastructure needed to provide reliable and affordable high-speed internet service to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses. For Grady County, Southern Plains Cable was awarded several grants. One for a nearly $7 million to get broadband service to an area north of Marlow; a $6.2 million grant for the Cox City area; a $2.1 million grant for the Alex area; and a nearly $2 million grant for the Sterling area. In Caddo County, Southern Plains Cable was also awarded a more than $4.6 million grant for the Cogar area; and the Carnegie Telephone Company was awarded a nearly $2 million grant for the Carnegie area. In Garvin County, Trace Fiber Networks was issued two grants totaling more than $20 million; and Pioneer Telephone Company was awarded two grants totaling $1.3 million for the Lindsay area. ISPs will provide some matching funds to help pay for those projects.
Sinking Oil Prices Not Good for the Oil Patch
Crude oil prices have been slipping in recent weeks. Matt Skinner with the Oklahoma Corporation reports that has an impact in the oil field-
That's Matt Skinner from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.99 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $71.63.
Natural gas is $2.90 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.77.
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