Saturday, Oct. 26th
Broken Water Line to Impact Parts of Chickasha for Days
City of Chickasha officials say a number of homes and even some businesses will have low water pressure for a week or longer. Officials discovered a broken 18-inch water line that runs underneath railroad tracks in the north part of town yesterday. Residents started noticing water pressure issues late Thursday afternoon. Officials say they will have to work with the railroad and get emergency repairs approved by the city council before they can start the work. Water valves in the area will be shut off during the overnight hours to allow water towers to re-fill. Water will be turned off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The area affected is north of Choctaw Avenue. Officials did not say how many water customers are affected. Check the City of Chickasha's Facebook page for updates.
Hundreds of Acres Scorched in Medicine Park Area Fire
Fire officials are estimating nearly 2,400 acres burned in the fire that broke out north of Lawton in the Medicine Park area Thursday afternoon including about 1,000 acres in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The fire burned close to the historic Holy City of the Wichitas which was included in the evacuation order issued Thursday. Officials have named it the Rush Fire as it broke out near Rush Lake. Nearly 200 firefighters from 30 local, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies responded. Crews worked to bulldoze fire lines, deliver water drops, perform prescribed back-burning, as well as direct fire suppression. Evacuation centers were established at the Comanche Nation Tribal Complex and Arena Cowboy Church. Evacuees were allowed to return to their homes yesterday. Portions of the wildlife refuge remain closed including the Holy City, Mount Scott, and Lake Elmer Thomas.
Talk Show Topic
Matt Stockman, Tourism and Festival of Light director with the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is this week's guest on the KOOL Konversation to give a preview of the upcoming Festival which opens in less than four weeks. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.
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Friday, Oct. 25th
Emotions High at Ninnekah School Board/Town Hall Meeting
The Ninnekah school board continues being criticized by patrons who are angry about how the board decided to pay for the $7.5 million settlement of a lawsuit filed against the district. The lawsuit was filed after 14 former student-athletes said they were sexually assaulted by former girls basketball coach Ron Akins who is serving a 25-year prison term after pleading guilty to 10 of the charges. In a meeting Wednesday night, KFOR TV reports that many residents wanted school board members to resign. One person said he wanted to hold some people accountable that knew about the settlement before homeowners and landowners did. A consultant hired by the school board said taxpayers weren't notified in advance about the settlement because discussions are confidential until an agreement is made. Another suggestion was to postpone some school bond projects to use those funds though it was questioned if that could legally occur. The consultant said the board had to balance the financial impact of a potential verdict as well as what they believed would be a fair settlement and that the board spent hours considering the issues. School board member Dustin Tate said the board has been through all the emotions, all of the anger, and hopes that someone could bring the board new ideas. Another meeting is expected to be scheduled in a couple of weeks.
Fire Crews Summoned to Help with Meers Blaze
Grady County volunteer fire fighters were called out help with one of two wildfires in neighboring counties yesterday. The Grady County Task Force was deployed to the Meers Fire in Comanche County. Comanche County Emergency Management issued a fire emergency for a blaze that erupted near the Holy City where there were several evacuations. Access to Lake Lawtonka was closed to allow aircraft to scoop water out of the lake to help firefighter efforts. A large grass fire also erupted in Caddo County in the Cogar area where crews worked to beat back flames for several hours.
Ampo Students Experience 'Journey of Hope'
Students at Amber-Pocasset schools learned of the terrifying days that followed the April 19th, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City yesterday. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum now has a traveling exhibit called Journey of Hope which made a stop in Amber. Among the 168 people who died in the bombing was 18-month old Blake Kennedy, the son of Steve and Laura Kennedy of Amber. Laura worked in the Murrah Building and Blake was in the day care center that day. Steve and Laura's daughter Jennifer, who was born three years after the bombing and is an elementary school teacher at Ampo, says the memory of the brother she never met inspires her to encourage students to do great things in their lives-
The exhibit is used to the share the message of the 30th anniversary of the bombing which is 'A Day of Darkness - Years of Light'. It salutes not only the memory of those who died and the 600 people who survived the bombing, but also the work of the first responders in the days after the attack. Students were asked to sign pledge cards promising their own acts of Service, Honor, and Kindness which are considered the Oklahoma Standard. There was also a re-dedication of the Survivor Tree sapling planted at the school in Blake's honor on the 10th anniversary of the bombing. The tree is now 20 years old and thriving. The exhibit will be in Minco later this year and in 2025.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.47 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $74.65.
Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,732 and silver is $33.33.
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Thursday, Oct. 24th
Overdose Leads to Arrest of Suspected Drug Trafficker
A drug trafficking suspect is behind bars after Chickasha police respond to an individual suffering from a drug overdose. An officer was dispatched to a medical emergency in the 2800 block of South 4th Street Monday afternoon. A vehicle had pulled over and there was an unresponsive individual lying in the street with his lips turning blue. He was taken to the hospital. A probable cause affidavit indicates that officers found what was believed to be fentanyl in the vehicle and authorities arrested the driver, 23-year old Trace Levi Turkelson of Chickasha, on a drug complaint. At the hospital the man who overdosed told investigators that he and Turkelson were smoking the drug. Turkelson has been charged with a felony for aggravated trafficking and he is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $600,000 bond.
OKC Bombing Memorial Exhibit at Ampo Schools Today
Students at Amber-Pocasset schools will get to experience a traveling exhibit of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum today. It's called Journey of Hope which is an exhibit that will visit all 77 Oklahoma counties. The exhibit marks next year's 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. One of the children who died that day was Blake Kennedy. Relatives of Blake - Jennifer Kennedy and Christie McComas - will share their stories with students. The event is a chance to honor family members of those who died and the survivors and first responders who were impacted. State Rep. Dick Lowe of Amber and State Sen. Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle will be part of the program. After the program students will plant a Survivor Tree sapling.
Fire Danger High in Western Oklahoma
The Grady County Fire Department is asking individuals to take extra precaution today to help reduce the risk of wildfires. Much of western Oklahoma will be at a high risk for fires with temperatures rising above 90 degrees with south winds increasing to 30mph and higher. Burn bans are in effect for several counties and there should be no outdoor burning. Officials urge anyone hauling a trailer to make they won't be dragging a chain or even a piece of wire that can spark fires along the roadway. They also say if you see smoke to call 9-1-1.
Chix Mayor Prepares Inaugural 'State-of-the-City' Speech
Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson will present his first State of the City address next week. He's expected to discuss city achievements over the last year and plans for the city's future. The presentation will be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and will be held at noon next Thursday, Oct. 31st at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Cost is $25 for chamber members and $30 for prospective members. It includes a catered lunch from Luigi's. Individuals planning to attend should RSVP the chamber by the close of business Monday, Oct. 28th. Registration is available on the chamber's website: www.chickashachamber.com
State Special Olympics to Host First Autumn Games
For the very first time Oklahoma's Special Olympics athletes will have a competition this fall. More than 500 athletes will participate in the games which will be held in Stillwater this weekend. Among the sports will be equestrian competitions, flag football, cheerleading, and events for children as young as three years old. John Seals is the vice president of sports and training of Special Olympics in Oklahoma. He says the event represents a new chapter for the organization and marks a milestone in their efforts to offer inclusive sporting opportunities year-round. Special Olympics Oklahoma is already known for hosting the largest summer games in the country each May. The goal of the fall games is to build on that tradition by offering athletes more platforms to compete and connect with their communities. Games will be held on the campus of Oklahoma State University and the Youth Fitness Zone.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.22 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $76.40.
Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,749 and silver is $34.42.
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Wednesday, Oct. 23rd
Ninnekah School Board to hold Special Meeting Tonight
Ninnekah school district patrons are expected to pack the school cafeteria tonight. The school board has scheduled a special meeting to continue discussion of a recent decision to have property owners pay for a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the district which was settled out of court. The lawsuit was filed by more than a dozen former student-athletes who were sexually assaulted by former coach Ron Akins who is serving 25-years behind bars after pleading guilty to those charges. The school board initially passed a resolution to have the estimated 2,000 property owners in the district pay $3,000 over the next three years to help pay for the settlement. Tonight's meeting will get underway at 5:30.
Chix Council OKs Infrastructure Projects
Some left-over business from Monday night's Chickasha City Council meeting. The panel awarded a bid to Krapff-Reynolds Construction Company to rehabilitate a sewer lift station at 23rd and Grand Avenue at a cost of just over $73,000. The group also approved going out for bids for city janitorial services. The group also accepted some infrastructure work completed in the Sleepy Hollow residential area at 9th and Country Club Road on permanent sewer and draining easements. City officials are also inviting the public to a ribbon-cutting and open house at the airport next week for the new hangars that have recently been built. There will be a short program and lunch will be provided. The event will be Tuesday, Oct. 29th starting at 10 a.m. Officials ask that those planning to attend to RSVP by this Friday by calling city hall at 405-222-6010.
Speaker Named for Grady County Historical Society Event
The director of the Oklahoma Historical Society will be the guest speaker for The Grady County Historical Society's annual membership meeting. Trait Thompson will address the group during its 51st anniversary celebration on Monday, Nov. 4th at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Reservations are due by Oct. 31st. Contact Pat Cunningham at the Grady County Historical Society Museum.
Chix Community Thanksgiving Meals to be Available
Thanksgiving is just over a month away and plans are underway to hold the annual Chickasha Community Thanksgiving dinner. Area churches are combining efforts to prepare a traditional meal with turkey and all the trimmings on Thursday, Nov. 28th. Deliveries will be available to homebound individuals and individuals can call New Life Christian Church at 405-222-5433 to place their orders. Those meals will go out between 10 and 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. To-go meals can be picked up at the Chickasha Soup Kitchen from noon to 1 p.m. that day. There will not be a 'dine-in' meal served. The meals are free but donations are welcome.
Cattle Producers to hold Chili Cook-off
Grady County Cattle Producers will host their first-ever chili cook-off and cornhole tournament next month. There will be adult and junior divisions with junior competitors to be under 18-years old. There is only one category for the chili cook-off which is homestyle chili. It is open to the public with entry fees of $25 for adults and $10 for juniors. The event will be held Friday, Nov. 15th at Hillcrest Nursery east of Verden starting at 6:00 p.m. For a list of rules contact the Grady County OSU Extension Office or see the Grady County Cattle Producers Facebook page.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.80 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $75.06.
Natural gas is $2.30 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,765 and silver is $34.81.
Obituary
Sheri Porter
A graveside service for Sheri Porter, 60, of Norman will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25th at Rose Hill Cemetery. She worked for the State of Oklahoma. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
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Tuesday, Oct. 22nd
Chix Council Approves Downtown TIF District
By a 6-3 vote, the Chickasha City Council approved the creation of a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. John Smith, Erica Alexander, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Oscar Nelson, Kia Ginn, and Mayor Zack Grayson all voted for the plan while Brian Gerdes, Kelly Boyd, and Charlie Burruss voted against it. The district will go into effect on January 1st and will be in effect for 25 years until the year 2050. The district is basically the downtown area. January 1st will serve as the base to determine the amount of funds that will be set aside to help pay for the installation of future water and sewer lines. The city could see the first sales tax revenues as early as March or April of next year while increases in property tax revenues won't be realized until 2027.
New Housing Addition Gets Council Approval
The council approved the development of a new housing addition. After a short public hearing the panel voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat for what will be known as Enclave Estates southwest of 29th and Grand Avenue. The plat is about 16 1/2 acres and is already zoned for residential use. The proposal is to build about 74 homes all around 1,300 sq. ft. in size.
Current City Employee Applies for City Manager Post
Is Chickasha's next city manager already working for the city? Mayor Zach Grayson announced last night that he has put on hold a decision by the council to hire a head-hunting firm to conduct a nationwide search for candidates. Grayson told the council-
Grayson did not identify the individual who applied. The council will have a special meeting and executive session next week to discuss the candidate. Current City Manager Keith Johnson announced earlier this month he'll be stepping down at the end of the year.
More Counties Call for Burn Bans
Nearly half the counties in Oklahoma have now implemented burn bans. 30 of Oklahoma's 77 counties now have the bans due to warmer-than-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry vegetation, and a lack of rainfall all of which enhance the risk of wildfires. Yesterday commissioners in Grady and Caddo counties extended burn bans for two more weeks through Nov. 4th. Much of the state is in a drought with many areas in serious- to extreme-drought conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Chix Hosts State Chamber Executive's Conference
Chamber of Commerce representatives from across the state are in Chickasha this week for the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executive's annual conference. Nearly 100 chamber reps are attending sessions which include The Importance of Vibrant Downtowns in Rural Oklahoma; Effective Communication; an Update on the Political Landscape; Running Local Non-Candidate Campaigns; How to Prepare for Audits; Partnerships Between Chambers and Local Government; Tourism; and Community Impact Through Leadership Programs. The conference runs through tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.29 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $74.97.
Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,748 and silver is $34.45.
Obituaries
Beverly Sorrels
Funeral service for Beverly Sorrels, 84, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23rd at Sevier Funeral Home. She worked for Pool Mortgage Company and in the office of Epworth Methodist Church.
Kay Harris
A memorial service for Kay Harris, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9th at Verden First Baptist Church. She was a homemaker. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.
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Monday, Oct. 21st
Chix Council to Consider Creating TIF District
After getting the narrowest possible approval the Chickasha City Council will consider creating one of two proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts when the group meets tonight. The panel will consider a resolution to create and establish a commencement date beginning in January. The council voted 5-4 to approve the creation of TIF District 2 and TIF District 3 last month. The council will also have a public hearing to discuss a preliminary plat for a new residential area called Enclave Estates to be located in the southwest part of the city and consider awarding a more than $73,000 bid to a firm to rehabilitate a sewer lift station at 23rd and Grand. The council will also consider accepting and ratifying a master service agreement and Task Order 1 with Meshek and Associates for the city's flood mitigation project. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.
Failed Lindsay Bank to Re-Open as Branch of Duncan Bank
Here is a follow-up to the weekend story about the closing of a Lindsay bank. Federal officials closed the First National Bank of Lindsay on Friday. News reports say the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) closed the bank after finding false and deceptive records suggesting fraud may have led to the depletion of the bank's capital. The agency also found the bank was in an unsafe or unsound condition to conduct business. The OCC is referring the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice for further investigation. The First Bank and Trust of Duncan will assume the insured deposits and will be opening in Lindsay this morning. All depositors of the closed bank will automatically become depositors of First Bank and Trust and their insured deposits will continue to be covered by the FDIC.
Burn Bans Expanding Across Parched Oklahoma
More Oklahoma counties are implementing burn bans as warmer-than-normal temperatures and dry conditions persist. Grady County has been under a burn ban for the last two weeks which was scheduled to end today but commissioners are expected to extend the ban when the panel meets this morning. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of Grady County in a severe drought with southern and western portions in an extreme drought. The drought monitor shows nearly all of Caddo, Stephens, and Comanche Counties also in extreme drought which impacts all of southwestern Oklahoma.
Grady County Sheriff Warns of Another Phone Scam
Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess is issuing another warning of a telephone scam where callers are posing as deputies and this time even using deputies' names. A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page says callers say they are conducting a fundraiser for the office. The sheriff says deputies will never call and ask individuals to contribute to fundraisers nor will they ask you to pay any fines over the phone. Fines of any kind are paid at the court clerk's office in the county courthouse. Boggess says anyone who has a concern about a phone call they receive can call the sheriff's office non-emergency phone number, 405-224-0984.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.36 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $74.06.
Natural gas is $2.29 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,747 and silver is $34.19.
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