Saturday, Nov. 2nd
Drought and Flooding Possible this Weekend
Many parts of Oklahoma have been extremely dry over the last few months. Much of the state is in moderate drought conditions while a majority of southern Oklahoma is in extreme drought. That's expected to change this weekend as thunderstorms with heavy rains are expected to cross the state late this afternoon, tonight, and through Monday. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of the state through 6:00 p.m. Monday. Central Oklahoma could see four to seven inches of rain or more. The I-44 corridor between Lawton and Tulsa is in the bulls-eye for the flood watch. Excessive run-off may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations and flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas. For motorists who may be caught on the road in heavy rains and high water officials say remember the adage 'Turn Around, Don't Drown'.
State Drought Committee Approves Relief Program
Agriculture producers in the Sooner State will be able to get some financial help due to the extremely dry conditions they've faced over the past few months. The state's Emergency Drought Committee will provide immediate and practical relief to those who have been affected according to one state official. Funds can be used to help secure water resources and address infrastructure needs. To qualify producers must be in counties where at least 25 percent of the land area is in D1 drought conditions or worse. That includes all of Grady, Caddo, Comanche, Stephens, and Garvin counties and much of McClain County. Much of southern Oklahoma south of I-40 is in D3 or extreme drought conditions. Applications will be available at local conservation districts and on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission website starting Nov. 12th with the application period running through Jan. 31st. Eligible producers may apply for funds to help with pipeline installation, water wells, pond clean-out, heavy-use protection areas, pumping plants, watering facilities, and pasture taps.
'Standard' Time Returns; Fall 'Back'
Most Oklahomans are going to get an extra hour of sleep tonight as much of the country will return to Standard Time. The official time change will be at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. That means an extra hour of work for those on the night shift. The change means that sunrise and sunsets will be a little earlier.
Talk Show Topic
Ray Walker with the Medicare Assistance Program from the Oklahoma Insurance Department is on the KOOL Konversation to discuss options for senior citizens during the Medicare enrollment period underway. A podcasts of the program can be found on this website under the Community Tab.
Obituaries
Kathryn Davies
Funeral service for Kathryn Davies, 81, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4th at Grand Assembly of God Church. She worked with an electronics company in San Diego, California. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
Nellie Pugh
No service will be held for Nellie Pugh, 91, of Chickasha. She worked as a nurse and a cook before staying home to be a homemaker. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
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Friday, Nov. 1st
Chix Mayor Presents State-of-the-City Address
Chickasha is on the cusp of some good things to come. Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson discussed some reasons he thinks so in his first State-of-the-City address yesterday in a program organized by the Chamber of Commerce at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Grayson began his tenure as mayor in June and has a positive outlook-
Grayson said a voter-approved sales tax to build a new water treatment plant will get the city on the right track to improve water quality. Engineers are currently in the design phase for the $30 million facility. Plans are to go out for bids for construction in the spring with construction to start late next year. Estimated construction time is about 18 months with a completion perhaps in early 2027. Grayson also said the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts recently approved by the council will help with future development and that upgrades at the airport will be beneficial. He said there will curves in the road ahead-
Grady County to Hold 'Operation Greenlight' for Veterans
Grady County officials will hold a ceremony on Monday to honor military veterans. County commissioners have issued a proclamation to Recognize Operation Greenlight, joining the National Association of Counties to encourage individuals and businesses to shine green lights. It's not only to show support for veterans but also raise awareness of the unique challenges they face. Sheriff Gary Boggess says the courthouse and his office will participate-
Boggess, who is himself a military veteran, will be one of several speakers during a ceremony set for 9:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4th in courtroom No. 1 in the county courthouse. It is open to the public. The weekly county commissioner's meeting will be held after the ceremony, at 10:30 a.m.
USAO Sets STEM Program for Pre-Teen Girls
Encouraging girls to consider careers in the STEM field is the goal of a program at USAO tomorrow. It's the 15th annual Women in Technology Workshop. It's for fifth and sixth grade girls and is focused on building their confidence and inspiring their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. Cost is just $5 per student and it will get underway at 8:15 tomorrow morning on the USAO campus in Austin Hall. Contact Dr. Jeanette Loutch at USAO for information.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.14 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $74.63.
Natural gas is $2.72 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,761 and silver is $32.96.
Obituaries
Bob Conner
Funeral service for Bob Conner, 83, of the Tuttle area will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2nd at the Newcastle First Baptist Church. He spent many years as the lead diesel mechanic for UPS. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.
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Thursday, Oct. 31st
Use of Sales Tax for Volunteer Fire Departments Criticized
A county-wide sales tax which benefits Grady County fire departments is up for renewal in next Tuesday's election. The 1/8th-of-a-penny sales tax has been in effect for 10 years and, if approved, would be extended for another 10 years. There are some rumblings about the use of the tax. Rodney Young, who is a board member for the Friend Volunteer Fire Department has some concerns. He says there are no checks and balances and no transparency. He gives one example–
Young also says that equipment has been purchased that is not on any station inventory list. He says he supports the work of the volunteer firefighters but wants better oversight of the spending. Kim Duke with the Grady County Fire Department says all purchase requests of more than $250 goes through a series of steps before they are approved-
This year the sales tax will bring in a little over $1.2 million which is distributed evenly to 20 fire districts in the county. That includes all the volunteer departments as well as municipal departments including the Chickasha Fire Department.
Long Lines Form for First Day of Early Voting
Voter turnout was huge yesterday for the first day of in-person, absentee voting ahead of next Tuesday's general election. At the Grady County Election Board about 2,200 people cast ballots with many waiting in line for at least an hour. Early voting will be available again today and tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In-person, absentee voting can only be done at the county election board where individuals are registered to vote. (Large cities have multiple sites available). Grady County Election Board Secretary Katrina Hughes says about 1,700 absentee ballots were mailed out and about 1,200 have been returned. Individuals can hand-deliver those ballots to the election board but must do so by the close of business Monday.
USAO Homecoming to Feature 'Golden Anniversary'
It's Homecoming weekend at USAO. Whitney Palesano with the alumni association says it marks a milestone for former students-
The name change from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma took place in 1974. The weekend kicks-off with a concert at Brandi's Bar and Grill tomorrow night with Dollar 98; Saturday events include a Hall of Fame brunch where faculty member Dr. Linda McElroy will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame and softball coach Jadyn Wallis will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. A tailgate party Saturday afternoon was scheduled for outdoors but has been moved indoors to the USAO ballroom due to the forecast for rain.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.92 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $72.66.
Natural gas is $2.79 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,785 and silver is $33.64.
Obituary
William 'Butch' Baker
A memorial service for 'Butch' Baker, 78, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a truck driver for Fairmont Dairy.
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Wednesday, Oct. 30th
More Water Issues for Chickasha
The City of Chickasha has had more than its fair share of problems with its water distribution system recently. Officials are already dealing with that water line break near the water treatment plant under some railroad tracks which has a number of homes dealing with low water pressure. Officials have declared an emergency to get repairs started as soon as possible. Last night, there was a power failure at the plant leaving many more homes with little or no water. The city posted on its Facebook page that officials were working to locate parts to make repairs and that officials have hooked up a pump to help restore water pressure.
Simultaneous Fires Break Out Tuesday
Grady County volunteer fire crews were stretched to the max yesterday battling multiple fires at the same time. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said a barn caught fire near Ninnekah around U.S. Highway 81 and SH 277; two fires erupted between Alex and Bradley – one was a combine on fire the other a grass fire – and there was also a grass fire in the Bridge Creek area. Fire crews from about a dozen departments responded with many spending several hours at their locations, some not leaving until well after midnight. Gregory said the causes of all those fires are still under investigation.
Voters Can Cast Ballots Early Before Tuesday's Election
Early voting gets underway today ahead of next Tuesday's general election. In-person, absentee ballots may be cast at county election boards today, tomorrow, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Chix Airport Poised to Part of Growing Aerospace Industry
A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held yesterday for new hangars recently built at the Chickasha Municipal Airport. City officials, the chamber of commerce, and State Representatives Dick Lowe and Brad Boles were on hand. Also attending was Grayson Ardies, the Executive Director of the State Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics-
City officials are considering more airport improvements including the construction of a new terminal and another new hangar.
American Indian Expo Begins
Anadarko will be the place to be this week for the annual American Indian Exposition. A big parade opens the expo at 10 o'clock this morning and activities at the Caddo County Fairgrounds today through Saturday. There's a carnival, Native American arts and crafts, and the National Fancy Dance Championship. The Indian of the Year is Donna Jean Tsatoke, a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe. The Celebrity Indian of the Year is Christian Wassana, a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe and a motivational speaker and actor who started a movement called 'I Can, I Will' to inspire people to pursue their dreams. There are special events each evening at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. See the American Indian Expo Facebook page for information
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.83 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $71.76.
Natural gas is $2.86 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,798 and silver is $34.46.
Obituaries
Paul Gayle
Funeral service for Paul Gayle, 50, will held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1st at Bible Baptist Church. He worked for Cimarron Trailers. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
Larry Pace
A graveside service for Larry Pace, 71, of Cement will be held at 1:00 p.m., Nov. 1st at Celestial Gardens Cemetery in Cyril. He worked at HSI Sensing and Harrison Gypsum. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in his name.
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Tuesday, Oct. 29th
Chix City Council Names New City Manager
City of Chickasha Public Works Director Jim Crosby has been tabbed as Chickasha's next city manager. Following a lengthy executive session during a special council meeting last night, Councilwoman Georgianne Hebblethwaite took the first step to make the hire-
The council voted 8-0 to approve with Councilwoman Erica Alexander absent from last night's meeting. Crosby has been the city's public works director for about four years. He previously served as city manager for 22 years for the City of Yukon and also spent time in Piedmont at that post. He has worked in municipal government for more than 55 years. Crosby turned 84-years old last month. If a contract can be approved Crosby would take over for current city manager Keith Johnson who is stepping down Dec. 31st.
Emergency Declared to Repair Broken Water Line
The city council declared an emergency because of the waterline break near the water treatment plant north of town. The break is underneath the Stillwater Central Railroad tracks and is causing low water pressure for homes and businesses mainly in the northeast part of the city. Public Works Director Jim Crosby says repairing or replacing the line will be a lengthy process-
Crosby said two unidentified businesses and one home have no water. They are making arrangements to get water to those locations. Crews are turning off water valves to that portion of the city overnight to allow water towers to refill.
Open House to be held at Chix Airport
Chickasha city officials will be holding an open house at the city's airport this morning. The city will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airport's new hangars and a tour of the new facilities. That will be held at 10 o'clock this morning.
Hazardous Spill Workshop Scheduled
How to prevent hazardous material spills from getting into the water supply is the subject of an upcoming workshop. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Environmental Quality will host the free workshop. It's to help drinking water suppliers, industry owners like above-ground storage tank and pipeline owners; local emergency responders, and state and federal agencies to better prepare for a spill into a river or lake that supplies drinking water. The program will included using a real-world, location-specific spill scenario that participants will use to simulate a response. The workshop will be held Tuesday, December 10th at the state DEQ headquarters in OKC. To register, reach out to the DEQ or your local emergency management coordinator.
Chick Chamber, Staff Members Honored at State Meeting
Two staff members for the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce were recognized for their work at last week's state chamber of commerce executive's conference held at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Marketing Director Cassie Pool was named outstanding staff member of the year, and new membership director Maddy Mosley was recognized for graduating from the Chamber Management Institute. The chamber office received a Communication Excellence Award for digital media, specifically for the ChickTok 'Tip-of-the-Week' series. More than 90 chamber executives across the state attended the conference.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.04 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $72.16.
Natural gas is $2.24 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,760 and silver is $34.23.
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Monday, Oct. 28th
Fire Risk Elevated Today, Tomorrow
It's another day of warmer-than-normal temperatures and high winds which means the threat for wildfires is high. There could be record-high temperatures again today with temps expected to be around 90 degrees along with south-southwest winds gusting to more than 35mph. Officials say the fire risk will be elevated for much of central Oklahoma and near-critical in much of western Oklahoma. The National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning starting at 10 o'clock this morning and running until 8 o'clock tonight and a wind advisory will be in effect for tomorrow. The Grady County Fire Department recommends obeying burn bans, avoid activities with open flames or sparks, avoid using power equipment that can create sparks, keep vehicles off dry grass, and properly discard cigarettes. They also say to call 9-1-1 to report smoke or fires. Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Caddo, and Comanche counties.
Update on Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Fire
Officials now say more than 10,000 acres have burned in the Rush Fire that began around the Medicine Park area in Comanche County last week and spread to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. KSWO-TV cites a statement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying the fire is still active in the refuge with backing fires being used to prevent the fire from spreading into nearby communities. Officials are now requesting that national resources be brought in. A number of Grady County firefighters were summoned to help. A task force included units from Amber, Acme, Bailey, Bridge Creek, Cox City, Farwell, Friend, Harold, Naples, Ninnekah, Pioneer, Pocasset, Rush Springs, and Tuttle departments.
Parts of Chickasha Still Impacted by Water Line Break
Many Chickasha residents continue feeling the effects of a broken waterline which occurred in the north part of the city late last week. The break is in the area of North 4th Street on a line that runs under the railroad tracks. Many residents have experienced no or low water pressure since last Thursday. City Manager Keith Johnson said crews may have to remove a section of the railroad tracks to make repairs. Officials have to get approval from the railroad. Crews have to repair or replace a section of an 18-inch in diameter water line. Officials are turning off water valves overnight to allow water towers to re-fill. Crews may not be able to begin repairs until later this week.
Chix Public School Foundation to Award Grants This Week
Thousands of dollars in new equipment and learning materials will soon be in Chickasha school classrooms. The Chickasha Public School Foundation will be awarding teacher grants this week. Teachers apply for the grants within the first month of school, and the grant requests are reviewed by a committee of individuals who serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees. The trustees approved 30 of 38 requests totaling more than $44,000. Mallory Karnes with the Foundation tells where the grants will be distributed-
Teachers won't know they received their grants until Foundation officials arrive at their classrooms on Friday.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.41 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $71.59.
Natural gas is $2.44 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,741 and silver is $33.55.
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