Saturday, Dec. 7th
Grady County Lawmaker Appoints State Senate Leadership Posts
State Senator Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle has announced his selections to lead senate committees in the next legislative session. Paxton is President Pro Tem of the senate. He said it is a strong group of individuals who will collectively move the state forward. In energy-related areas, Sen. Darcy Jech of Kingfisher whose district includes much of Caddo County will chair the Aerospace and Transportation Committee; Sen. Avery Frix of Muskogee will be vice chair. Sen. Ally Seifried of Claremore will chair the Technology and Telecommunications Committee which will be co-chaired by Jech. Sen Tom Woods of Westville will chair the General Government and Transportation Committee, which will be co-chaired by Sen. Darrell Weaver of Moore. Weaver has ties to Chickasha and Duncan as he and wife Kim own medical clinics in those communities. Sen. Grant Green of Wellston will chair the Energy Committee with Sen. Tom Woods of Westville appointed vice chair; Sen. Kristen Thompson of Edmond will lead the Natural Resources Committee which will be co-chaired by Sen. Casey Murdoch of Felt. The legislative session will begin in February.
Festival of Light Falls in National Poll; Still a Top 10 Holiday Light Display
Chickasha's Festival of Light remains among the top 10 holiday light displays in the United States. That's according a survey by USA Today asking readers to cast votes. However the Festival dropped from No. 2 last year to No. 6 this year. For the second straight year, the Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, Minnesota was voted No. 1. Surpassing the Festival of Light were displays in West Palm Beach, Florida; Ogen, Utah; Riverside, California; and Denver, Colorado.
Shuttle rides now offered on weekends
The Festival of Light is now offering shuttle rides Friday and Saturday nights from the Leg Lamp downtown to Shannon Springs Park. Festival goers can park downtown and choose from the many eateries, shop for souvenirs, and of course get pics with the Leg Lamp. The shuttle rides will be available both nights through Saturday. Dec. 21st. A round trip ticket is $2 per person and can be purchased at Downtown Mercantile and the Visitors Center next to the Leg Lamp. The shuttles will run every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The last shuttle leaves the park about 10:45 p.m. Ticket sales benefit Chickasha Public Schools which is providing the shuttles and the drivers.
Chickasha's Lighted Christmas Parade Tonight
Chickasha's annual lighted Christmas parade will be tonight. More than 25 groups are entered with holiday-inspired floats using the theme of Christmas Toyland. The parade route will start at the YMCA at 8th and Chickasha Avenue and head east where it will disburse at the Leg Lamp. The parade gets underway at 6:00 p.m.
Talk Show Topic
Sue Getman with the Chickasha Area Arts Council and Amy Rutherford with the Chickasha Community Theater will discuss their organizations and an upcoming community meeting with the Oklahoma Arts Council. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.
Obituary
Carl Wilkerson, Jr.
A memorial service for Carl Wilkerson, Jr., 45, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14th at Trinity Baptist Church. He was a builder for Willowbrook, worked in the energy industry, and was a volunteer with the Alex Fire Department and Grady County Emergency Management. Memorial contributions may be made to the church for Valerie Lam's project to make bears for needy children.
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Friday, Dec. 6th
Grady County Emergency Management Office
to Close Lobby for Weeks Due to Sewer Line Work
A sewer line replacement project at the Grady County Emergency Management Agency office will cause a few changes in operations over the next few weeks. Director Dale Thompson said the office will be open but the lobby will be closed for at least a month. Visitors will have to call the office and an employee will allow them in through a separate secured entry. Thompson also said the passport office will be closed for the duration of the work. Temporary closure will start on Monday, Dec. 9th and is expected to be in effect for up to five weeks. The target date for completion is Jan. 6th.
More School Board Filings
We have an update regarding candidates who filed to run for local school board posts earlier this week. At Dibble, Jennifer Mandrell filed un-opposed; at Blanchard Nicholas Hawker and Ryan Keeler both filed; at Newcastle, Jeremy Gilbertson and James Orton filed; at Lindsay, Michael Holden filed un-opposed and for Mid America Technology Center Donna Stokes of Blanchard filed un-opposed.
Weekend Shuttles to Chix Festival of Light Begin Tonight
Attendance at Chickasha's Festival of Light should be increasing this weekend. Starting tonight, the festival will offer shuttle rides from the downtown Leg Lamp to the festival at Shannon Springs Park on Friday and Saturday nights through Saturday, Dec. 21st. Tickets are $2 per person for a round trip and can be purchased at Downtown Mercantile and Chickasha Visitors Center next to the Leg Lamp. The shuttles will run every 30 minutes from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The shuttle will take individuals straight into the park and families can stay as long as they like. The last shuttle will leave the park about 11:00 p.m.
Minco Honey Festival is Tomorrow
Did you know that Oklahoma's official insect is the bee? You can learn that and more as Minco will host its annual honey festival. This is the 34th year for the event which will include tours of the Ross Honey Plant. It's the state's largest honey-processing facility. Festival goers can also get tours of the Great Plains Cotton Gin and area wind turbines. There will be numerous arts and craft vendors, a honey bake-off, and Santa Claus will take time out of his work at the North Pole to stop by. The Minco Chamber of Commerce estimates about 3,000 people attend each year.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.67 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $71.43.
Natural gas is $3.01 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,658 and silver is $31.67.
Obituary
Clyde Hare
A graveside service for Clyde Hare, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Dec. 9th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He owned and operated Hare Pipeline Construction. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.
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Thursday, Dec. 5th
School Board Filings Listed; Four Candidates at Ninnekah
The three-day filing period for candidates wanting to run for school board offices ended yesterday. Here are some of the filings in the region.
Grady County
Christy Clift filed un-opposed for the post she holds at Chickasha; four candidates have filed at Ninnekah including Bruce Trammell, Ricky Austin, Mark Fulton, and Damon Stephens; Stephanie Adams ran un-opposed at Amber-Pocasset; Gary Gall and Jason Knowles have filed at Friend; Jeff Martin filed un-opposed at Pioneer; and Derek Williams filed un-opposed at Middleberg. At Verden, two candidates filed un-opposed for separate offices - Stephanie Hale for Office 3 and Jeff Dunkin for Office 5. At Alex, it's Laurie Drennan and Keith Alcorn; At Rush Springs Lance Melton and Brittany McWilliams filed; At Minco, Mike Herrell and Don McMahon applied. At Bridge Creek, Kent Sugg filed unopposed; and at Tuttle, Karen Osborn filed un-opposed. There were also a couple of un-opposed filings for Tuttle Town Council seats. They are Sarah Hites in Ward 4 and James Saye in Ward 3.
Caddo County
For Anadarko Board of Education incumbent Clarissa Davilla is being challenged by Debbie Gerst; at Cement, Patrick Nolan and Christina Seymour filed; for the Caddo Kiowa Technology Center, incumbent Lance Shenold is being challenged by Patrick Michael Hays. Filing unopposed were Dustin Rhodes at Cyril; Jan Bailey at Gracemont; Brent Lankister at Ft. Cobb-Broxton; Tanner Kelley at Carnegie; Kylie Toho at Binger-Oney; James Patterson at Apache; Jami Radacy at Lookeba-Sickles; Ethan Murray at Hinton; and Brandon Strack at Hydro-Eakly.
Knife-wielding Man in Custody for Alleged Attack
A Grady County man with a history of violence is back in jail now accused of assaulting three people including a police officer. 36-year old Kaleb Broden of Tuttle was arrested last weekend after Tuttle police were called to investigate a disturbance at an apartment complex. Court documents indicate the officer encountered Broden who was wielding a knife and pointing at several people. It's also alleged that Broden threatened the officer with the weapon. Broden eventually threw the knife into one of the apartments and he was taken into custody and then to the Grady County Jail. Prosecutors have charged him with two felony counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and a misdemeanor for assault on a police officer. A judge set his bond at $250,000. Broden was arrested this spring for domestic abuse and arrested in September of last year on two DUI complaints.
State Arts Council to Visit Chickasha as Part of Listening Tour
A couple of Chickasha groups known for their artistic talents want your input on events you'd like to see and experience in the future. The Chickasha Community Theatre and the Chickasha Arts Council will host a representative from the state arts council for a listening session next week. The goal is to develop arts programs which meet the needs of the each area. Oklahoma Arts Council officials are holding these meetings statewide to create a five-year strategic plan to run from 2026 to 2030. The program will be held next Thursday, Dec. 12th at the Chickasha Arts Council headquarters in downtown Chickasha. Officials ask that you RSVP to reserve a seat. Send an e-mail to chandra.boyd@arts.ok.gov
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.89 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $72.68.
Natural gas is $3.08 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,672 and silver is $31.84.
Obituary
Jerry Witt
Funeral service for Jerry Witt, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Airforce veteran, a certified flight instructor, and an insurance adjustor.
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Wednesday, Dec. 4th
Deputy Suffers Broken Leg in Scuffle with Suspect
A Grady County deputy is recovering after suffering a broken leg during a scuffle with a reckless driving suspect. A probable cause affidavit indicates Deputy Keith Williams had to be taken to a hospital after the brawl. He had been called out to a rural area east of the I-44 and Highway 4 junction this past Saturday to investigate a report of a reckless driver. Williams encountered two men who had stopped a short distance from where the call came in. One of the men had a knife and a fight between the officer and the armed man ensued. The deputy was able to disarm the suspect and heard a 'snap' in his left ankle while taking the suspect down. The fight continued until Williams was able to tase the suspect and he managed to get him in the back of his SUV. He then called for back-up where Deputy Auston Worth took over the investigation while Williams was taken to a hospital by an ambulance. X-rays indicated he suffered a broken fibula and he was treated and released. The suspect, 30-year old Gerardo Peralta-Ruiz of Oklahoma City, was taken to the Grady County Jail. He's charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and his bond was set at $100,000.
Teen Accused of Lewd Acts to a Child
A teenager is arrested for allegedly asking a 12-year old to have sex with him. A probable cause affidavit indicates Tyler Chase Burley, 18, of Blanchard had asked the girl to have relations with him several times. An arrest warrant was issued for Burley last week and he was arrested early Tuesday morning. The girl told investigators that Burley never touched her inappropriately. He is facing one count of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16 and he remains in jail on a $100,000 bond.
2025 Spring Chix City Council Election Scheduled
The Chickasha City Council approved a resolution to hold the annual city council election next spring. Four council seats are up for election which includes the posts for Ward 1 Councilman Brian Gerdes, Ward 2 Councilwoman Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Ward 3 Councilman Oscar Nelson, and Ward 4 councilman Kelly Boyd and all are for two year terms. The filing period will be Feb. 2nd through 4th at Chickasha City Hall and there is a $25 filing fee. The election will be Tuesday, April 1st.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.25 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $74.00
Natural gas is $3.02 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,667 and silver is $31.35.
Obituaries
Sharon Parks
A memorial service for Sharon Parks, 78, of Chickasha was held at 11:00 a.m. this morning at SonRise Baptist Church. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.
Jessie Rush
A graveside service for Jessie Rush, 62, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6th at the Sayre-Doxey Cemetery in Sayre. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to local animal shelters or any charity.
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Tuesday, Dec. 3rd
Chix Council OK's Firefighter Contract
A new two-year agreement has been reached between the Chickasha Firefighters Association and the Chickasha City Council. The council unanimously approved the pact with International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 2041 after a 31-minute executive session during last night's council meeting. The agreement is for two years and runs through fiscal year 2026. No details of the contract were disclosed.
Infrastructure projects OK'd
The council also approved the new waterline installation project in the area of Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad. The cost of the project is just over $480,000. The panel also approved the ongoing sewer line replacement in the 400 block of Colorado Avenue. The cost of that work is more than $160,000.
Food for Fines Program Erases Thousands in Fines
That Food for Fines program for the City of Chickasha's Municipal Court was a success. Officials say nearly $3,000 in fines were forgiven for 30 individuals during last month's campaign. Many brought more items than required and some who didn't have fines also brought non-perishable foods, all of which were donated to the Emergency Food Pantry.
School Board Candidate Filings
Grady County
A number of candidates came forward on the first day of filing for local school boards. In Grady County, there were no filings for Chickasha; Keith Alcorn and Laurie Drennan filed at Alex; Don McMahon filed at Minco; Lance Melton of Marlow filed at Rush Springs; Derek Williams filed at Middleberg; Kent Sugg filed at Blanchard; and Karen Osborn has filed at Tuttle.
Caddo County
In Caddo County, Jan Bailey filed at Gracemont; Kylie Toho filed at Binger-Oney; James Patterson filed filed at Apache; Lance Shenold and Patrick Michael Hayes filed at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center; and Jami Radacy filed at Lookeba-Sickles. The filing period runs through 5 p.m. tomorrow.
Animal Shelter Volunteer Recognized
A Grady County woman is honored for her nearly 30 years of volunteering to rescue hundreds of abandoned dogs and cats. Marie Maston was recognized for her work with the Chickasha animal shelter during last night's Chickasha City Council meeting. Mayor Zach Grayson signed a proclamation citing Monday, Dec. 2nd as Marie Maston Day. Police Chief GG Music praised her work-
Maston has logged more than 12,000 hours in her nearly 20 years at the shelter which includes working with the Chickasha Animal Rescue Transport division that helps to find homes for rescued animals. She continues her work while also battling cancer.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.73 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $72.44.
Natural gas is $3.18 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,666 and silver is $31.40.
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Monday, Dec. 2nd
Chix Council to OK Infrastructure Work
Water line and sewer line upgrades are expected to get final authorization from the Chickasha City Council tonight. One is a more than $480,000 project for a water line at Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad. The council gave its approval to award the bid to Bear Creek Construction at its last meeting. The panel is also expected to award a nearly $165,000 project to upgrade a sewer line in the 400 block of Colorado Avenue to Leetech Services out of South Dakota.
Swimming pool rehab work also to get final OK
The group is also expected to move forward with renovation and rehabilitation work on the municipal swimming pool in Shannon Springs Park. The $450,000 project was recently awarded to Sunbelt Pools. The contract calls for the work to be done by March 1st of next year.
Panel to consider reimbursing property owner paying for drainage project
Also to be considered is an agreement to reimburse a property owner in the 200 block of Willow Creek up to $20,000 to make some drainage improvements in that neighborhood. The panel will also consider accepting a $5,000 grant from the Arvest Foundation to purchase body armor for the police department. The group will also go behind closed doors to get an update on the status of negotiations and a possible contract with the Chickasha Firefighters Association, IAFF Local 2041. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.
School Board Filing Period Underway
Individuals interested in running for a post on their local school boards have three days to file for offices to be filled. The filing period opens this morning and runs through Wednesday afternoon. Candidates should check with their school administration offices to see which offices are to be filled. In Chickasha it is office No. 5 which is the seat current held by Christy Clift. Candidates will need to file at the county election board in the county where their school district is located. After the filing period ends there will be a two-day period for individuals to withdraw their candidacies or for anyone who may want to challenge the qualifications of potential candidates. If there are challenges the election board will hold a hearing. The primary school elections are set for February 11th and if any run-offs will be needed they will be held April 1st.
More Upgrades Begin at I-35 and SH-9 Interchange
Motorists who go to Norman via the State Highway 9 and I-35 junction may want to choose another route for the next several months. Another phase of construction to upgrade that interchange begins today and officials say it could take up to two years to complete. The project will widen I-35 to six lanes from the Canadian River Bridge to Goldsby. It will also include some roundabout additions on Highway 9 for local streets. Traffic will be narrowed to one lane in each direction on Highway 9 and some occasional lane closures on I-35. Officials say there is no planned detour and drivers should prepare for congestion and delays.
Animal, Food Science Specialist to Address Ag Producers
Ag producers in the region will meet tomorrow morning for the first of their two informative sessions which are held each month. Jason Smith, a senior OSU Extension specialist in animal and food science, will give a presentation and take questions. The programs are held the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Grady County OSU Extension office at 7:00 a.m.
Energy and Metals
Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.68 per barrel.
London-based Brent crude is $72.57.
Natural gas is $3.17 per million BTUs.
Gold is $2,664 and silver is $30.82.
Obituaries
David Farley
A memorial service for David Farley, 56, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3rd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked in the oilfield and for the City of Chickasha. Memorial contributions may be made to the David Farley Fund at the funeral home.
Jeffrey Cheadle
Funeral service for 63-year old Jeffrey Cheadle will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 7th at the Bryant Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.
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Saturday, Nov. 30th
PSO Rate Hike Request Faces Scrutiny by State Regulators
Officials with the Oklahoma Corporation Commission are concerned about a 15 percent rate hike proposed by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). The website OK Energy Today cites one commissioner as saying the rate hike could mean as much as a $35 increase for PSO customers. The proposal is part of a settlement agreement with groups opposed to the rate hike although the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) was not included in those groups - and AARP has filed a challenge to the settlement. It was suggested that the corporation commission could put a cap on rate hikes but an attorney for the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers say if a cap is put in place they would withdraw from the settlement. If a rate increase is approved it would not go into effect until 2027. A representative from the state attorney general's office said if the commission continues to delay its decision the impact could be larger down the road as PSO could request another rate hike in January of 2026.
Festival of Light Nominated Again for top Holiday Display in America
Chickasha's Festival of Light (FOL) is again among the candidates for the top ten holiday light shows in the U.S. The survey is being conducted by USA Today in its Readers Choice Awards. FOL finished runner-up in the survey last year. The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is urging individuals to cast their votes by going to the website: www10best.usatoday.com
You can vote once a day but the voting ends at noon Tuesday, Dec. 2nd. The final rankings will be out about noon on Friday, Dec. 6th. Other nominations include last year's winner The Bentleyville Tour of Lights in Duluth, Minnesota.
Former Radio Announcer Keith Michaels Passes Away
The staff and management of Mollman Media mourn the passing of former radio announcer Keith Michaels. Keith passed away recently just a few days shy of his 70th birthday following a lengthy illness. Born Keith Vazquez he spent several years on the air on our sister station KOOL 105.5 and also at stations in Lawton, Weatherford, and Wichita Falls. After his on-air career he worked in public relations for the Kiowa Tribe where he produced a weekly Kiowa Voices radio program, helped to carry on the legacy of the Kiowa Newspaper, and was the announcer and videographer of the American Indian Expo parade. He is survived by his wife of more than 35 years, Herbette and two children and their families. Funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m. today (Saturday, Nov. 30th) at Cedar Creek United Methodist Church in Carnegie. Services were under the direction of Ray and Martha's Funeral Home in Carnegie.
Obituaries
Veronica Bowen
A graveside service for Veronica Bowen, 80, was held at 1:00 p.m. today (Saturday, Nov. 30th) at the Verden Cemetery. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.
Jerry Miller
Funeral service for Jerry Miller, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked at Badgett's Machine Shop and OG&E-Enogex.
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