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2017, Week of Nov. 20th Through 25th       

Our Chickasha Schools Academic Persons of the week is Deborah Reed! Tune in to hear Deborah’s story!

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Your Ranch News

2017, Week of Nov. 13th Through 17th       

Our Chickasha Schools Academic Persons of the week is Deborah Reed! Tune in to hear Deborah’s story!

**Archived News Link**        

Get the TuneIn and hear our unique music blend (a.k.a. "Chickasha's Country") anywhere you go.

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Saturday, November 11th

Pursuit Involved Stolen Truck from Grady County

A Grady County man who called police after seeing his stolen pick up leads to a lengthy high speed pursuit in the Oklahoma City area. Shane Jones of Bridge Creek says his pickup was stolen while he was at a doctor's appointment last week. Friday morning, November 10th, he spotted the truck towing a trailer in southwest Oklahoma City, so he called police. After about a three-hour chase, authorities managed to take 25-year old Brenton James Hager into custody after he crashed the pick up into a Cleveland County pond. Hager is on probation on previous charges of unauthorized use of a vehicle and drug possession, and had served time behind bars for similar crimes.

Crash With Semi Injures SUV Driver

An Anadarko woman is hospitalized in serious condition after a traffic accident involving a semi. 64-year old Margo Stephenson was flown by helicopter to an Oklahoma City hospital suffering from head, trunk, and internal injuries. The crash that happened on U. S. Highway 281 about a mile north of Anadarko about 1:00 p.m. Friday. The Highway Patrol reports Stephenson was eastbound on a county road and failed to yield at a stop sign, broadsiding the semi's trailer. She was trapped in her SUV for about 20 minutes. The driver of the semi, 27-year old Bryson Baker of Comanche, was not injured.

Crashes With Big Rigs on the Rise

It's at least the third accident within the last 10 days involving semis. Two of the them resulted in deaths. 89-year old Donald Taylor of Minco died when his pick up was hit by a semi in Union City earlier this week. A semi rollover near Gracemont recently claimed the life of 28-year old Tobias Martinez of Anadarko.

Fatal Crash Near Apache

One man dies and another hospitalized when a pick up crashes into a creek in southern Caddo County. 50-year old Kendall Coker of Mt. View succumbed to his injuries in the crash that happened northwest of Apache about 4:30 a.m. Friday. The driver of the truck, 38-year old George Kodaseet, also of Mt. View was taken to an OKC hospital, and was last in fair condition. The Highway Patrol said it wasn't clear what caused Kodaseet to veer off the road and crash.

One Behind Bars in Embezzelment-Theft Probe

Tuttle police have made an arrest in connection with an alleged embezzlement and/or theft. In custody is 30-year old Christopher Sean Danle who taken into Friday on complaints of embezzlement and receiving, possessing or concealing stolen property. No details about his arrest were availalbe. Danley will spend the weekend in jail, and is expected to go before a judge Monday morning to hear the complaints against him.

K-9 Officer Grants Awarded

The votes have been counted in a one-month on-line national campaign for police departments hoping to get grants for their K-9 officer programs. Unfortunately, the Chickasha Police Department was not among the top agencies in the effort. The waste-disposal company Aftermath awarded more than $15,000 in grants to eight departments which were selected to participate. Dozens of agencies were depending on votes from their local citizens. A police department in Illinois was selected to receive the top $5,000 grant. Other grants went to departments in Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Georgia, Ohio, and Florida.

Weekend Program

Here's what we're talking about this weekend: Christy Clift and Whitney Brooks with the literacy group Altrusa are on our KOOL Konversation. They'll be talking about their work to help adults and youth to improve their reading skills and education, as well as their 25th annual Hall of Trees Fundraiser that's coming up. On Real Estate Today with John Mosley, Rick Howell and Jay Freede with the Oklahoma branch of the National Association of Royalty Owners will discuss their work, and the continuing mini-boom underway in the SCOOP and STACK oil and gas plays in the region. The KOOL Konversation, coming up about this time next hour, followed at 8:30 by Real Estate Today. We have links to both programs in our website, KOOL 1055 fm - dot - com.

Friday, November 10th

Minco Man Dies in Crash With Semi

That fatal crash in Union City Thursday morning involving a semi and a pick-up kills a Minco resident. Donald Taylor, 89, died in the crash. It happened at a particularly dangerous intersection, near the Love's store just north of Union City on U.S. Highway 81. Taylor was trying to turn onto the highway when his truck was hit by the big rig. The identity of the truck driver wasn't available, and it wasn't known if he or she was injured. Officials say there have been seven major accidents at that location in the last two years. Union City officials and the state Department of Transporation have been working to lessen the risk of bad accidents there. ODOT has lowered the speed limit in that area from 70 to 55 mph, but there are still motorists who speed through that region.

Person of Interest in Mysterious Death Arrested

Authorities in Caddo County have arrested a man who is a person of interest in connection with the death of a Carnegie woman. Byron Yeahquo, 32, also known as Byron Tongkeamah, was arrested by Carnegie Police on an outstanding misdemeanor warrant this week. He's being held in the Caddo County Jail. The OSBI was looking for Yeahquo, and are wanting to talk to him about the death of Cindy Kaudlekaule, whose body was found along a county road east of Carnegie a couple of weeks ago. The Lawton Constitution reports the Caddo County Sheriff's Office indicates Yeahquo is connected to a gang called the Indian Brotherhood.

Coffee Cup Assault Suspect Charged

A Chickasha man is accused of smashing a coffee cup on the head of a woman so hard, the cup shattered into pieces. Police arrested Quentin Griffith, 63, after answering a 911 call about a domestic disturbance. A woman claimed she and Griffith were arguing prior to the attack. After being struck the woman grabbed her cel phone and ran outside to hide in the bushes, where she called police. Griffith spent some time in jail, then posted bond after being charged with a misdemeanor. A probable cause affidavit on file did not indicate if the woman went the hospital, though she did have a knot on her head.

Alex Landfill Expansion Update

Here's a follow-up to a story you've only heard on Ranch News. We reported a couple of weeks ago that the Southern Plains Landfill in Alex is wanting to expand its operation. We talked to District Manager Jeff Bedick about the plans. He says there is still plenty of room on their 76-acre landfill and he estimates it could last another 15 years. The landfill owner, Waste Connections, is trying to plan for the future. An application for expansion has been on file at the State Department of Environmental Quality for about a year. Bedick said a copy of that permit can be seen at the Chickasha Library. Bedick says they have worked to verify the location of any ground water sources, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has surveyed the area. Right now, he says they are waiting for a response from the DEQ before the process can continue. Bedick said property owners near the landfill have been sent notifications on the request to expand.

New Pipe Storage Company Expands Here

A new pipe storage facility will be coming to the region. C-TAP, a Colorado-based company for casing, tubing, trucking, and storage has purchased 29 acres in the north part of Chickasha, near the city's water treatment plant. Economic Development Director Christy Elkins made the announcement at yesterday's meeting of the Economic Development Council.

Elkins compares it to the Garrett yard in Amber. Before they can get started, a new rail spur must be built off the Stillwater National rail line. CTAP's website indicates it been in business for nearly 30 years. It has sales offices in Oklahoma City and Dallas, and pipeyards in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah as well as in the northeast part of the country. Elkins expects the move to generate about 15 jobs that will pay an average of $16 an hour. However, the hiring process won't start until some time next year.

Academic Person

Time to highlight an individual putting in some extra effort for Chickasha Public Schools. Our Dennis Linam has that story.

Veterans Day Program

Tomorrow is Veterans Day, and a number of programs are being held throughout the region to honor the men and women who have, or are currently serving in the armed forces. In Chickasha, the Oklahoma Veterans Recognition Committee will have its program at the Grady County Veterans Memorial in Shannon Springs Park. Chickasha City Manager John Noblitt is the guest speaker. The program will start at 11 a.m. tomorrow.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX surges past $57 to $57.17 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is just under $64.

Natural gas up to $3.20 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,284 and silver is $17.02

Thursday, November 9th

Another Candidate to Run for Vacant House Seat

A retired educator from Marlow has announced he'll be running for a vacant seat in the state House of Representatives. Charles Murdock, 71, says he's a candidate for House District 51, the seat previously held by Chickasha's Scott Biggs, who stepped down from the post last week. Murdock is a Democrat, who ran for the seat unsuccessfully in 2016. Murdock says many house Republicans are not willing compromise because of party politics.

Also announcing their candidacy for the post this week was Chickasha businessman Dustin Payne who will run as a Republican. The filing period for the vacant seat is next Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Candidates will file at the State Election Board. A special primary election will be held January 9, 2018.

Missing Man Found

A man missing from Chickasha earlier this week has been found, and he's OK. Chickasha Police issued a Silver Alert for 67-year old Gene Burgess early Wednesday. He and his wife had stopped at a convenience store late Tuesday. Burgess has early-onset Alzheimer's and lost the keys to the couple's car. His wife had walked to a nearby motel, where Burgess was supposed to meet her, but Burgess never arrived. The alert canceled after Burgess was in Edmond mid-day Wednesday at a home the couple owns there.

Property Tax Statements in the Mail

Property owners throughout Grady County should be receiving their 2017 property tax statements in the mail. County treasurer Robin Burton says her office put thousands of statements in the mail last week.

Those statements represent about $56 million in property taxes, most of which goes to fund local school districts. Property owners who have their property taxes included in their monthly mortage payments should not get a statement. You can pay the entire amount, or, pay half by January 15th. If you choose that option, the second half is due by April 15th.

Historic Downtown Building Needs Repair

Supporters of the historic Washita Theatre in downtown Chickasha say the aging building may have to close, if some desperately needed repairs aren't made. The building is home to the Chickasha Community Theatre. It's estimated that about $100,000 is needed for structural repairs, a new roof, and water-proofing work. A local family is jump-starting a big fund-raising campaign to repair the building. The Elmer DeHart family will match the first $50,000 donated to the rehabilitation of the theatre. Kristy Jarnagin says the theatre will also need additional funds for interior repairs. For information, contact Jarnagin at Jay's Jewelry. All contrubtions are tax-deductible.

Tuttle, Bridge Creek to Hold Elections

Voters in Tuttle and Bridge Creek will be going to the polls next week. However, they can cast ballots early if they want. In-person, absentee voting will be available today and tomorrow at the Grady County Election Board. For Tuttle school district patrons, there's a special election to decide two issues. One would allow the district to purchase laptops and iPads for students, as well as purchase text books. It would also fund technology upgrades to improve wifi access and internet service. A second issue would allow the district to upgrade transportation, including busses and suburbans.  The combined value of the bond issues is just over $3 million. Bridge Creek voters will also decide a special bond issue, and the Bridge Creek Fire Protection District general election will also be held. Early voting at the election board from 800 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. today and tomorrow. Otherwise, regular polling places will be open next Tuesday.

FFA Student Places High in Speech Contest

A Chickasha High School FFA student turned in a good performance at a recent speech contest. Clay Grossnicklaus was third in the Intermediate Division of Southwest District competition hosted by American Farmers and Ranchers. His speech was on the topic of Science and Natural Resources.

4H Share the Fun Results

4H youth throughout Grady County put their talents on display at the annual Share the Fun event at Minco last weekend. 34 youth took part in a dozen acts, which included singing, dancing, or acting. Brooke White lists some of the winners.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $56.81 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $63.49.

Natural gas is $3.17 per million BTUs

Gold is $1,288 and silver is $17.15.

Tuesday, November 7th

Residents Discuss Pros, Cons of Code Enforcement

Chickasha residents both for and against some code enforcement ordinances addressed last night's Chickasha City Council meeting. And while the council took no action following more than an hour of discussion, the panel opened the door for compromise. Torry Wise was among those opposed to the ordinance that deals with parking on the grass.

Speaking for the enforcement of the issue was Rick Johnston.

Mayor Hank Ross and City Manager John Noblitt both said the city has not issued any tickets for not painting homes over the last few years; and only a few tickets for parking on the grass. Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander said the city needs to be honest, fair, and credible, and that city officials are willing to work with citizens. He also said the community needs to work as a whole in order to create a city everyone wants. Councilman Cody Turpin says there are a lot of scared people, and that the city needs to do a better job of informing the public of its proposals.

City Manager Has Council Backing

Chickasha City Manager John Noblitt gets a vote of confidence from the city council. After spending an hour and a half in a closed-door meeting, Mayor Hank Ross said Noblitt has the full support of the council. Noblitt's been on the job for about six months.

No Action on Wind Farm Proposals

Also after the exectuvie session, Ross also said there was no action taken concerning the appraisal of city-owned land at Lake Chickasha, regarding a proposed wind farm lease.

Woman Makes Good Calls in Attempted Robbery

A woman sitting in her vehicle in a church parking lot waiting to go to work gets a scare. Police say a man with a gun tried to get inside her SUV. But the woman quickly locked her doors, and backs away from the suspect and calls police. Chickasha police quickly answer, find the suspect nearby, and take him into custody without incident. This all unfolded before dawn last Friday morning at Epworth Methodist Church. A probable cause affidavit from Chickasha police say responding officers found the suspect did have had a loaded 9mm.  When officers took the suspect to jail,they found suspected meth and PCP in his possession. Lawrence Paul Anderson, 38, was arrested on complaints of possession of a firearm after conviction; and drug possession. The website On Demand Court Records indicates Anderson pleaded guilty to drug charges from a 2010 arrest. Anderson remains in jail. Bond has not yet been established.

Motorcycle Rider Recuperates

A Chickasha man remains hospitalized after the motorcycle he was riding was hit by a pick-up. John Hunter was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with what police called serious injuries. Hunter was last in good condition. The accident happened in front of the Jimmy's Egg Restaurant east of 4th and Grand about 4:15 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say Hunter was eastbound on Grand Avenue, when the pick-up pulled out from Wal-Mart and hit him. The driver of the pick-up, 19-year old Dalton Chaney, was not injured. Officials say no tickets were issued, as the accident remains under investigation.

Author Receives National Recognition

An Oklahoma author wins a national award. Duncan native John Dwyer picks up two gold medals during the annual Will Rogers Medalion Awards ceremony in Ft. Worth recently. The gold medals are for Dwyer's book entitled, The Oklahomans:  The Story of Oklahoma and its People, Volume One." Dwyer was the speaker at last night's Grady County Historical Society annual meeting, and tells our Dennis Linam:

It took Dwyer more than 10 years to write the book. He's already working on a sequel.

Fire Departments to Receive Unexpected Cash

Some volunteer fire departments in the region will be getting a boost in funding. The money will be donated by Midship Pipeline, which will be building a natural gas pipeline through the region over the next several months. The company will be donating $200,000 to 64 fire departments, including some in Canadian, Grady, Garvin, and Stephens counties. in Grady County 17 volunteer fire departments each will receive a little more than $3,000. When completed, the pipeline will extend 200 miles, and wil connect new gas production from the SCOOP and STACK plays to growing markets in the Gulf Coast of Southeast regions of the country. A formal presentation will be held in Oklahoma City tomorrow.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX jumped to $57.35 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude climbs to $64.37.

Natural gas was up to $3.13 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,277 and silver is $17.05.

Monday, November 6th

Code Enforcement Ordinances Back for Discussion

The Chickasha City Council will again tackle the sensitive issue of enforcing certain city codes when it comes to maintaining personal property. Two issues are to be reviewed during tonight's council meeting. One pertains to the exterior of homes, especially when it comes to peeling, flaking, and chipping paint. Another deals with parking on the grass. Approved parking surfaces currently are gravel driveways installed before 2008, or hard-surface driveways. The city council is also to discuss holding yet another public auction to lease mineral rights. The latest section expected to go up for auction is about 200 acres near Lake Chickasha. The council will also go behind closed doors to discuss the performance of city manager John Noblitt; and to discuss the appraisal of property near Lake Chickasha, regarding a proposed wind farm lease. The city council meets at 5:30 this afternoon at city hall.

New Construction Slows

October was a slow month for new construction in Chickasha. The city's Community Development Department approved just $105,000 in new construction, the lowest month for new construction projects this year. Only seven total permits were issued. The largest was awarded to Char-Don Builders for a $57,000 commercial remodel at 126 Kansas Avenue. The remaining six permits were for residential additions and remodels. New building permits through the first 10 months of 2017 total more than $49.1 million.

Man Injured in Chickasha Crash

A serious traffic accident in Chickasha yesterday. We don't have any details, but we know the crash happened about 4:30 p.m. Sunday in front of the Jimmy's Egg restaurant. There were unconfirmed reports of at least one injury. Chickasha police confirmed they were investigating the crash, but provided no additional information.

Motorcycle Accident Hospitalizes Blanchard Man

A Blanchard man is critically injured in a motorcycle accident. 31-year old Michael Goldsmith was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City Hospital with numerous arm, leg, trunk, and internal injuries. The crash happened near Davis in southern Oklahoma yesterday. The highway patrol reports Goldsmith was speeding along a state highway and failed to go around a curve. He laid the bike on its side and hit a guardrail. He was wearing a helmet.

Salvation Army Bell-Ringing Campaign Here Soon

The Salvation Army division which serves the Grady and Caddo County areas is preparing for its annual Red Kettle campaign. All the proceeds will benefit needy families in the two-county region. The kick-off will be this Thursday at the Salvation Army’s new location, 2402 S. 16th in Chickasha. Meet the new commanders, Lt. David and Amanda Brittle, the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony, and needy families can still sign up for the Angel Tree program. The open house is Thursday, November 9th, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Substitute Teachers Sought

Chickasha schools are seeking substitute teachers. The school board recently approved an increase in substitute pay, $75 a day for certified subs, and $65 a day for non-certified. A workshop for substitute teachers will be held tomorrow morning at 8:30 at the school administration building. Candidates should have two forms of identification. Contact Susan Parr by calling 222-6500.

Agriculture Info

In agriculture news, Marty New, who is a livestock specialist with Oklahoma State, will be in Chickasha tomorrow. He'll be speaking at the Grady County Ag producers meeting in the morning. New will address the impacts of forage quality in a supplementation program. That meeting at 7 a.m. at the OSU extension office in Chickasha. In a couple of weeks, Laura Goodman, who is a range specialist with OSU extension, will address a joint gathering of Grady and Caddo county cattle producers. Goodman will discuss pasture grass identification at the Caddo County Fairgrounds on Monday, Nov. 20th at 6:30 that evening. You're asked to contact the extension office in Anadarko if you plan to attend.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX up last week to $55.64 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude up to $62.07.

Natural gas is $2.98 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,273. Silver is $16.91.

Saturday, November 4th

 2017, Week of Oct. 9th Through 13th        

Our Chickasha Schools Academic Persons of the week is Larry Abram! Tune in to 106. The Ranch at 7 and 8 AM Friday Oct. 13^th to hear Larry’s story!

July 5^th, Through 7^th

An Armed Robbery Suspect Hears Formal Charges Today.

            A woman accused in the hold-up of a Chickasha discount store is expected to hear formal charges against her today. 25-year old Autumn Deanne Ford of Carrolton, Missouri was arrested by Chickasha police Monday. She's suspected of robbing the Dollar General Store at 3rd and Kansas. Police say they found Ford about a mile away from the site of the robbery, at the Chickasha Travel Plaza. They found a weapon, and also discovered she was driving a van stolen out of Carrolton, Missouri. Police and emergency responders were praised for their actions by city councilman Howard Carpenter during Monday night's council meeting.

Ford is being held on complaints of robbery or attempted robbery with a dangerous weapon; using a weapon while committing a felony; and possession of a stolen vehicle.

 Police arrested another individual on robbery complaints early yesterday. Twenty-year old Korran Hall, whose hometown is not known, was booked into the Grady County jail on complaints of robbery and unauthorized use of a vehicle. It's not known the Hall's arrest is connected to the hold up at the Dollar General.

Beware of Scams

            Chickasha officials encourage residents to beware of scam artists who may be trying to take advantage of those who suffered damage from last week's strong storms. Baseball to softball sized hail hit the Chickasha area Friday night. Mayor Hank Ross says an ordinance that has been in effect for several years required roofing contractors to be licensed with the city and the state.  At this week's city council meeting, the Mayor said he was approached by a couple of individuals over the weekend.

Ross said contractors should also have a permit to go door-to-door to solicit business.

D&BCI Show Tonight          

Tonight, Chickasha will serve as host of competition for some of the nation's top drum and bugle corps. Three bands will be performing...they are practicing all day today at three different locations, but will all play tonight. Three groups will perform Wednesday. The Academy, out of Tempe, AZ. The Phantom Regiment out of Rockford, Ill; and The Santa Clara Van Guard from Santa Clara, CA. The bands are being hosted by the Chickasha high school band, which is selling tickets and will have concessions as a fundraiser to help with some of its projects. Tickets are $10 and $15. Buy them on-line at " https://liveinchickasha.ticketbud.com/ Tickets will be available at the gate, starting at 3:30 Wednesday. Performances start at 7 p.m.

NYMEX

Crude oil tops $47 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $47.87

Natural gas down to $2.95 per million BTUs.

Gold down to $1,218

Silver falls below $16 to $15.90.

Week of June 26^th, Through 30^th

Three Injured in a Weekend Crash, Still in Hospital.

            Cyril police officer Bryan Janz has been upgraded from critical to fair condition in an Oklahoma City hospital. Diego Arevalo of Anadarko was listed in stable condition in a Lawton hospital this morning. The Highway Patrol has still not given any details about the crash, which happened early Saturday morning. The crash happened at the intersection of a couple of county roads northwest of Cyril. It was raining at the time. Initial reports were that Arevalo's wife, Marianne, was hospitalized, but officials later said she was treated and released.

H.E. Bailey Accident

            An accident early Sunday morning on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike sends a woman and a young boy believed to be her son to the hospital. The 11-year old boy was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City facility, where he was last in critical condition. 41-year old Jennifer Foulk of Oklahoma City was last in fair condition. Both were wearing their seatbelts. That crash happened in the westbound lanes of I-44 near mile marker 87 just before 1:30 Sunday morning. The Highway patrol says the cause of that crash also still under investigation. Both westbound lanes of traffic were shut down for about two hours.

911 Up and Running

            An all-new, 911 phone system will be activated at the Chickasha police department this morning. Sgt. Kori Brewer, who supervises the communications department, says the switch will take place about 9:30 this morning. Brewer says they've already run some tests, and the system is works great. He said the system will even allow dispatchers to follow a cell phone through what's called the re-bid program.

            The New 911system has three 911 lines; there are three non-emergency administration lines; and the Grady County Crime-stoppers line. The Motorola system cost $300,000; and will be paid for over 10 years, and it includes all new equipment in five years.

Fishing lands a Weekend in Jail

            A Chickasha man spent the weekend in jail for not paying his fine for fishing without a license. 20-year old Travis Anthony Steven HIitter was ticketed for fishing without a license in April of 2015. Court records indicate he was fined about $350, and had paid about $200. However, he had not paid anything since August of 2015. Grady County deputies picked him up Friday, and he spent the weekend in the Grady County jail. He was released this morning.

A long-time vice president at USAO has died.

              Bill Smith passed away last week at the age of 92. Smith's career at USAO spanned four decades...beginning in 1973...until his retirement in 2000. Smith served as vice president for administration; and later served as special assistant to the president. Smith was instrumental in reviving the baseball program at the university, and starting the softball team. He was a US marine veteran, serving during World War two and received two purple hearts. A graveside service will be held in Miami tomorrow. Memorial contributions may be made to the Bill and Pat Smith scholar athlete award and scholarship fund at USAO.

NYMEX

Crude oil on the up Friday but down for the week, $43.01.

Fifth straight losing week for oil, longest skid in two years.

London-based Brent crude is $45.54 a barrel.

Natural gas was up Friday, but down for the week to $2.93 per million BTUs.

Precious metals down for the week as well.

Gold is $1,243

Silver is $16.54.

Week of June 19^th, Through 23^rd

Lawsuits Filed Against the City of Chickasha to be Reviewed by City Council Monday.

              Two lawsuits will be among the discussions in a closed door session of the Chickasha City Council later today. One of them is a lawsuit over an agriculture lease at Lake Chickasha. Phillip Willis claims his family has had an agreement with the city for 60 years; allowing him to lease the land. Last summer, the council awarded the lease to someone that submitted a higher bid. Willis says his family's agreement allows him to match the bid.

            Another confidential matter to be discussed with city attorneys is an Equal Opportunity Claim filed by former police officer, Anna Van Dyck. The council will also meet in private regarding negotiations with the Fraternal Order of Police Local 129; and the International association of Firefighters, Local 2041.

            Also in the closed door meeting, discussion about hiring a new city judge. The previous judge, Kory Kirkland, was named Grady County District Judge last month. During the open portion of the afternoon's council meeting, the panel is expected to put its stamp of approval on a proposed $15 million budget for Fiscal year, 2018, which starts next week. The group is also expected to OK an independent contract with retired city employee Steve Chapman, to serve as a part time public safety coordinator. The group is also scheduling a July auction of mineral rights leases in Grady County; and present a commendation to animal control officer, Layce Graham.

Construction of the New Surgery Wing at G. M. H. Appears to be on Schedule.

            Administrator Kean Spellman says some vertical construction is underway, as the new addition begins to take shape. Spellman talks about what visitors can expect to see when the work is completed.

Spellman says he is anticipating a mid-January opening. There have been no invasive surgeries at the hospital since August of 2014, when state and federal health officials shut down the old surgery rooms.   

New Appointments for Military Academies

A number of recent high school graduates have been accepted into various military academies. Students require a nomination from their congressman, and 4th district Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole announced the appointments in a news release. Two students are from Tuttle. Beau Guffey has been accepted into the U.S. Military Academy, and Tanner Johnson has been accepted into the Air Force Academy. Makenzie Brooke Mabry of Bridge Creek has also been accepted into the Air Force Academy; and Tyler Gregory Cox has been accepted into the Naval Academy. The nomination process is quite competitive. Applicants are evaluated for academic performance which includes class rank; SAT/ACT scores, and school records. Other considerations include leadership potential; extra-curricular activities; recommendations; athletics; and physical fitness.

Chickasha Rodeo

Local cowboys and cowgirls can get their names in the hat for the 78th annual Chickasha Open Rodeo this weekend. Entries into the rodeo are open tonight and tomorrow with stock contractor, Rafter D Rodeo of Sterling. Bull riding, team roping, barrel racing; calf roping and other events are on tap. Call Rafter D at 580-512-4682 this evening.

NYMEX

Crude oil on the up Friday, but down for the week to $44.74 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $47.37 a barrel.

Natural gas held steady for the week, at $3.03 per million BTUs.

Gold starts the week at $1,252

Silver is $16.63.

Week of June 12 ^th, Through 16^th

New Construction in Chickasha Down.

            After four straight months of topping the million dollar mark, new construction in Chickasha took a downturn in May. The combined value of commercial and residential construction projects were just under $425,000 last month. The community development department approved 15 total permits. Only four were in the commercial sector. Tops on the list was $120,000 in renovations to the Salvation Army in the 2400 block of S. 16th. A $30,000 upgrade at Hicks Western Wear downtown was approved; a $20,000 remodel to a commercial building in the 800 block of South 3rd; and $10,000 in remodeling near 9th and Chickasha. Since the first of the year, more than $21 million in construction projects have been approved in the city.

Elderly Ft. Cobb man Hospitalized

            An elderly Ft. Cobb man hospitalized, and a woman and a two-year old child are injured in a crash outside Anadarko. 81-year old Edgar Johnson of Ft. Cobb was last in fair condition

in a Lawton hospital with head, trunk, arm, and leg injuries. 21-year old Jada Meeks of Anadarko, and a two-year old girl in her car, were taken to hospitals in Lawton and Anadarko. Both were treated and released. The accident happened at the intersection of a couple of county roads about 2 1/2 miles west of Anadarko just before 5 o'clock Sunday afternoon. The Highway Patrol reports that Johnson collided with Meeks vehicle, when Meeks failed to yield at a stop sign.

Weekend Arrests

            A weekend arrest made by Grady County sheriff's deputies comes after a man scuffles with an officer of the law. 34-year old Ricky Lee Buchanan is being held on complaints that include possessing, receiving, or concealing stolen property; aggravated assault on a police officer; drug possession; and resisting arrest. No details are available about the arrest. Buchanan was booked into the Grady County Jail Saturday afternoon.

            Chickasha police arrest a man wanted for violating probation on a burglary conviction out of Pottawatamie County. 34-year old Dale Ray Stidham was taken into custody Saturday night. The website On Demand Court Records indicate Stidham received a 10-year deferred sentence after pleading guilty to a 2014 burglary. A warrant was issued for his arrest last month.

Budget Agreement

             State lawmakers did finally agree on a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Some wanted to see higher fuel taxes to help fill a gap. State Senator Lonnie Paxton said while nobody likes high taxes, he supports fair taxes...and gives this example regarding the fuel tax.

Paxton was on our Real Estate Today program with John Mosley over the weekend.

Freewheel Oklahoma Coming to Chickasha

         The Oklahoma Freewheel is underway! Each June, hundreds of long-distance bicycle enthusiasts take about a 400-mile, week-long trip through the Sooner State. The ride started in Wichita Falls, Texas yesterday, with riders making a stop in Comanche. Today, they'll take a short trip up Highway 81 to Duncan, and then tomorrow, they'll be arriving in Chickasha. An estimated 350 cyclists will be arriving in Chickasha tomorrow morning...with a welcoming site at Shannon Springs Park. The riders will spend much of the day in town...and will head out early Wednesday morning for the ride to Kingfisher. The whole thing will end in South Haven, kansas on Saturday. The Freewheel is taking a route very similar to the historic Chisholm

Trail, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

NYMEX

Crude oil  drops nearly 4 percent last week to $45.83.

That's down 15 percent from the first of the year.

London-based Brent crude is $48.15.

Natural gas was up slightly to $3.04 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,271

Silver is $17.10.

Week of June 5^th, Through 9^th

Unemployment Rates are Down.

              Jobless rates are down in just about every county, The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reports unemployment in Grady County fell from 4 percent in March, to 3.7 percent in April. That's down one full percentage point from the same time a year ago. The report shows that about 960 workers out of the more than 26,000 in the labor market didn't have a job in April, but were seeking employment through the state agency.

                The Caddo County jobless rate drops from 4.4 percent in March, to 4.3 percent in April. Just over 500 of the nearly 12,000 people in that labor market were without a job. In Stephens County, unemployment was down to 6.5 percent, about 1,100 workers of their more than 17,000 in the labor pool. Garvin County unemployment down to 4 percent.  With 500 individuals out of a labor force of 12,000-plus without work. Comanche County was down to 4 percent, with some 2,000 individuals out of a labor force of 50,000 without a job.

Steve Chapman is Back

                Long-time city of Chickasha parks and rec director Steve Chapman is back at city hall. Chapman has agreed to serve as a part-time emergency management director. The city dissolved the full-time position that was held by Crystal Kuhn a couple of months ago. Chapman retired last year after working for the city for 36 years. Chapman will serve as an independent contractor through the end of the year .The contract will allow Chapman to purchased health insurance and pay the same amount that full-time employees pay. That rate is less expensive than for retirees. The contract is expected to be approved by the city council, when that panel meets later today. The city will have to spend more than a quarter-million dollars to cut off abandoned water lines along 4th street. This comes after the city replaced the eight- and 12-inch water lines from Kansas to Tennessee. Officials are recommending that the contractor cut off the abandoned lines by boring under 4th street, in order to avoid any traffic problems. A less expensive alternative would only cost about $125,000, but it would impact traffic, and the contractor would have to cut into the recent concrete upgrades on the roadway. The low bid for both options come from Danny Wick Excavating.

The Heat and Air Still Out a CPD

                 The heat and air system at Chickasha Police Headquarters has not been working for some time. The cost to replace the system has a big price tag...nearly $90,000. The outage impacted all the administrative offices, including that of the police chief and assistant chief; the front lobby; records areas; neighborhood services; and the municipal courtroom. Four companies submitted bids for the system, but officials say the only bid that met the requirements came from DeHart Heating and Air. The city council is expected to approve the bid. The panel is also expected to approve an emergency purchase for the fire department. The agency had a catastrophic failure of the compressor that fills the SCUBA tanks that fire fighters use when entering buildings on fire. The cost of the compressor is about $17,000.

NYMEX

Crude oil falls to $47.20 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude down to $49.35.

Natural gas dips just under $3 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,282

Silver is $17.50.

Week of May 30^th, Through July 2^nd

Governor to Decide Grady County Lawmaker's Bill on drones.

                     A bill designed to give property owners more rights regarding drones made it through last week's hectic schedule at the state capitol. HB 1326 from Tuttle Senator Lonnie Paxton says it’s similar to a hunter who is on private property and shouldn't be. Anyone with a drone would have to get a rural landowners permission before flying over the property. Paxton said the bill does need some tweaking, and plans on adding guidelines to include property owners in metropolitan areas. Paxton said the legislation would not give a landowner the right to shoot down a drone if it was flying over their property without their permission.

Impact of State Legislative Session.

            The energy industry took a hit from state lawmakers during the recently completed legislative session. The oil and gas sector faces more $140 million in new taxes in the coming year. Officials say it’s the third straight year for the industry to see tax hikes. The increase comes in the form of the repeal of some tax breaks. The wind energy also saw some tax breaks disappear.

Scammers return due to Storm Damage in Oklahoma

            Tornadoes have caused millions of dollars in damage in Oklahoma, a lot of that in the devastating storms that hit Elk City earlier this month. It's a good time to remind you of unscrupulous contractors who are out to make an easy buck. If you're ever in a situation where your home or business needs repairs after any disaster, make sure to check the backgrounds of individuals you come in contact with. Susan Routh with Grady County OSU Extension.

Get a written estimate from several contractors. Most will give you a free estimate, though some do charge. When you choose a contractor, get a written contract that shows all aspects of the work, who is paying for materials; and who is applying for any necessary permits. Don't pay for the entire job up-front.

Grady County Farmers Market is Open.

Stop by and Get your Farm fresh produce from local growers at 7^th and Choctaw North of Sevier Funeral Home. They have Local honey, cabbage, early-spring greens; turnips, green onions, potatoes, maybe some carrots.

Open = 7AM – Noon Tuesdays and Saturdays

             3PM – 6PM    Thursdays

Venders call: 224 - 2216

NYMEX

July Crude oil e just under $50 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude just over $52.

Natural gas opens the week at $3.23. per million BTUs.

Gold down Friday, but up for the week, $1,266.

Silver steady Friday, and up for the week, to $17.31.

Week of May 22^nd, Through 26^th

Chickasha's Airport Industrial Park in Hopes of Creating New Jobs!

            More than $1 million has been spent on improvements at Chickasha airport industrial park. The City of Chickasha and the Economic Development Council has been working to develop city-owned property west of the airport to attract expanding companies.

            Christy Elkins has been the CEO of the economic development council for five years. She talks about the recent work in that area.

Elkins says officials are working on plans to build a shell building at the park in hopes of recruiting firms that can bring 50 to 100 new jobs to the region. She says it has an issue, since an economic development sales tax was discontinued last year, and an increase in the city's hotel-motel tax set aside for economic development hasn't made up the difference.

Click it, or Ticket Campaign

             Law enforcement agencies across the country, watching for buckled up motorists for the next couple of weeks. The nationwide Click It or Ticket campaign begins today and runs through June 4th. That includes the upcoming Memorial Day holiday weekend. Officials say 223 people lost their lives in auto accidents in Oklahoma in 2015...because they weren't wearing a seat belt. 87 of those victims were ejected from their vehicles. Officers won't accept any excuses if you're not buckled up. So as the campaign slogan says...Click it, or Ticket.

Livingston Machinery’s 30th

            A big anniversary celebration in Chickasha today, as one of the region's oldest farm equipment dealership reaches a milestone. Livingston Machinery is marking its 30th anniversary today. The profile on the company's website indicates that Earl and Sharon Livingston opened a small shop to buy and sell used equipment locally, and a year later, was awarded the Hesston contract for the region. By 1996, Livingston expanded his company to the Fairview area; and in 2009, offered employees a stock ownership plan. And just three years ago, Livingston expanded to the Texas panhandle town of Muleshoe. The company employs more than 165 workers in its three locations. You're invited to stop by the Chickasha location Monday from 10-2 for an open house and celebration.

Top CV Tech Students

            Two CV Tech students recognized for their achievements. Angelica Herrera and Cameron Smiley are both recipients of the school foundation's outstanding scholar award. Herrera came to CV Tech last year, when Wright Business School went bankrupt. CV Tech gave her credit for much of the nurses training she had received, and now is ready for her state licensing exam for LPN. Smiley was named post-secondary recipient of the outstanding scholar award,. He attended the schools automotive service technology program.

NYMEX

Crude oil up 11 percent over the last two weeks, $50.33

London-based Brent crude is $53.60.

Natural gas was higher Friday, but down for the week at $3.25 per million BTUs.

Precious metals higher Friday, and up for the week, gold up to $1,255.

Silver just under $17.

Week of May 15^th, Through 19^th

Request to Expand an RV Park to be heard Monday Night by the Chickasha City Council.

            Owners of the Pecan Grove RV Park have purchased property next to their business. They are asking to re-zone the property as commercial, in order to grow their company. The RV Park is also asking for an exemption to the city's facilities requirement for the construction of a second service building that would reduce the number of toilet facilities for the park. The council will also hear a request to rezone property near 15^th and Missouri from residential to commercial use.

            The Salvation Army is asking the city to let it use siding to make improvements to its new location in the 2400 block of South 16th. The church wants to use a material called AG Panel, which is a metal product with a painted durable finish. It's a material that is not listed as an approved material in city codes. The planning commission recommended approval of all of these requests; and the city council is expected to approve them all when the group meets this afternoon.

            The council is also to go behind closed doors to discuss on-going negotiations with the police union. The talks regarding the 2017-18 contract for the Fraternal Order of Police, Local 129. The panel will also appoint a new vice-mayor to serve for the next year. John Toland, who served as vice mayor the last couple of years, was defeated in his re-election bid.

            The council is also expected to approve an emergency repair to the city's main water line from the Ft. Cobb reservoir. Officials detected a leak near the water plant on April 24th, and officials had three contractors give their opinion on repair or replacement. Officials had to replace nearly 20 feet of the main water line at a cost of just over $33,000.

Grady County officials are looking to help families of autistic children.

            The sheriff's office wants to create a registry for the youth that deal with the issue. Grady County Sheriff Jim Weir said it's an easy process. Parents are asked to fill out a four-page questionnaire that asks if the child responds to certain songs or toys; or if they have a fascination with certain objects or places. Weir said the questionnaire can be a handy tool in case a child does go missing, officials have the information readily available, instead of having to ask numerous questions if a parent would ever have to call.

            Right now, a temporary data base will just be a hard copy of the questionnaire. He hopes it will eventually be transferred to a digital database, which can be uploaded to a national registry to help find lost children.

Caddo County wins Lawsuit

            A Caddo County community has won a lawsuit filed against it by a wind energy company wanting to expand. A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Next Era Energy, against the town of Hinton. Next Era was wanting to expand its operation in the Minco and northern Caddo County region. Earlier this year, Hinton officials created an ordinance that bans wind farms within two miles of its city limits. While the lawsuit by Next Era was dismissed, the company can still re-file or amend its original lawsuit.

Josh White places in Lexington, KY.

           One member of the state champion archery team from Chickasha High School took part in the National archery in the schools program in Lexington, Kentucky over the weekend. Josh White finished 54th out of 458 high school seniors in the competition. The numbers are posted on the national archery competition in the schools program website. His score of 287 included 19 bulls-eyes. He was listed as 173rd out of more than 2,400 competitors in high school boys.

NYMEX

Crude oil at $47.84 a barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $50.84 a barrel.

natural gas up to $3.42 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,231

Silver is $16.60.

Week of May 8^th, Through 12^th

Developers are Planning the Next Phase of Retail Venue in Chickasha.

      More than $60 million in new construction is underway in Chickasha. City building inspector Gene Winsett says that includes the nearly completed indoor arena at the Grady County Fairgrounds and the surgery suite at Grady Memorial Hospital. Just last month, Winsett signed off on more than $4 million in new projects, including another new motel. That's a $3.5 million project going in right next to the Byford GMC-Buick dealership. Winsett says developers of the newest retail sector, the Shoppes at Chisholm Trail, may consider its next project soon.

Winsett is anticipating another big project in the next couple of months. A Best Western Plus has been eyeing a location near the county fairgrounds for some time.

Rezoning Public Hearings.

            Plans to expand an RV park and to re-zone some residential property to commercial use are among a number of public hearings for the Chickasha Planning Commission tomorrow. The Pecan Grove RV Park on Almar Drive will have two hearings. Winsett said the owners have purchased property adjacent to their park, and hope to add more spaces.

            One of the other hearings will be held to re-zone property at 1418 Missouri from residential to general commercial.

            The planning commission will also consider a variance for the Salvation Army to replace existing siding with material that is not listed as an allowable material. The planning commission meets at 4 o'clock Tuesday afternoon at city hall.

            One more matter of Chickasha city hall business this morning. Garage sale permit fees are being waived for this coming weekend. The waivers are in conjunction with the Chickasha Antique auto club pre-war Swap Meet that will be this Thursday through Saturday. Normally, individuals are supposed to obtain a $5 permit to hold a garage sale, but that won't be necessary this weekend.

A lot going on this coming week.

          In addition to the Pre-War Swap meet, Chickasha's Stewart and Beth Ann Meyer will begin their annual walk to Stillwater. The couple makes the 125-mile trip on foot every year to support Special Olympics. Thursday afternoon, they'll start with Craig's Walk, which is a memorial for their son, which also raises money for Special Olympics. And a new book about Craig has just been published, and that will be available Thursday. Craig's walk will be from 5-8 p.m. at the high school football field. Ahead of Craig's Walk will be a Law Enforcement Torch Run, from 4^th and Country Club to the football field. Sign up for that on-line at letr.org. The walk to Stillwater starts Friday morning.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

            Letter carriers nationwide are asking for your help to feed hungry families in your hometown. The Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is a one-day effort by the National Association of Letter Carriers to fill local food pantries. Steve Riggs is the state spokesman for the letter carriers.

Riggs says they hope to collect 100 million pounds of food nationwide on Saturday. You will receive a plastic bag in the mail on Wednesday or Thursday. Letter carriers ask that you put some non-perishable items in them. Put them by your mail box, on Saturday, and they'll pick them up on Saturday.  

OHCE Celebrates its 102nd

           This week is Oklahoma Home and Community Education week throughout the state. Grady County OHCE celebrates its 102nd birthday this year.

NYMEX

June crude oil up Friday, but down for the week, $46.22.

London-based Brent crude is just over $49.

Natural gas for June is $3.26 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,236

Silver is $16.39.

Week of May 1^st, Through 5^th

Silver Alert has been Issued for a Missing Lawton Man.

             Lawton police are looking for an 87-year old man who went missing last night. A Silver Alert has been issued for 87-year old Louis Encalade. He was last heard from about 11 o'clock last night. Authorities say relatives said he was on his way to Oklahoma City, and that he was on I-44. But the family did not know which direction he was traveling. The only description available is that he is African-American, and that he may be wearing blue jeans and a blue jacket. He may be driving a maroon, 2017 Chevy Silverado; Tag No. HV 647. If you have information, you’re asked to call local law enforcement, or Lawton Police.

In Cyril,

A public meeting will be held next week regarding the continuing efforts to clean up of a former oil refinery that's been closed for 30 years. Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency and the state department of environmental quality will discuss the former Oklahoma Refining Company. The company was among numerous sites across the country that were part of the EPA's Superfund program to clean-up closed energy-related sites that were blamed for contaminating the area. The Cyril refinery opened in 1920, and was in operation through 1984. There were intermittent attempts to re-start its operations over the next 10 years. However, the site was added to the Superfund list in 1988. The public hearing will include information about recent sampling, and any progress being made on contamination on the northern section of the site, and impact on surface and ground water. The public hearing will be at Cyril City Hall Tuesday night starting at 6 o'clock.

A Caddo County man died in a weekend pick up crash near Elgin.

            Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Bain was killed in a crash that happened about 8 o'clock Saturday morning. The highway patrol reports that Bain was southbound on Trail Road southeast of Elgin. It was raining at the time. The report shows Bain's pickup veered off the road and hit a fence. It traveled another 350 feet into a pasture, hit a creek bed and rolled several times. The roadway was shut down for nearly three hours.

Ninnekah High School students will be Traveling this Summer.

A group of Ninnekah High School students are learning about natural resources and will be putting their knowledge to the test at an international event this summer. The Enviro-thon team has been doing research on the areas of soil wildlife, forestry, and aquatics. The group recently won the state Enviro-thon competition. Connie Taylor is the instructor.

The Enviro-thon competition is supported by the Grady County Conservation District and Natural Resources Conservation Service. A lot of the funding is provided by the Noble Foundation..

NYMEX

Crude oil for May at $49.33 a barrel.

Price dipped about 2 percent for April.

London-based Brent crude is $51.73.

Natural gas was up for April, starts this month at $3.27 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,246 fairly steady over the last month.

Silver down 5 1/2 percent last month, it’s at $17.14.

Week of April 24^th, Through 28^th

A New Face at Chickasha City Hall.

            Chickasha's new city manager will be in the office today. John Noblitt was hired by the city council last month. He spent the previous four years in Lindsay as the city manager there. Prior to that, he worked has a city planner in Texas. Noblitt's salary is $125,000 for his first year. Noblitt takes over the city manager duties, after Alan Guard was allowed to resign the post last fall. Guard was among the center of controversy after allegations arose of a hostile work environment at city hall.

CPSF Annual Event

            A group formed to provide equipment and supplies for Chickasha school students is getting ready for its biggest fund raiser of the year. The Chickasha Public School Foundation is in its 31st year. Over the years, the endowment fund for the foundation has grown to $1 million. The interest earned on that endowment funds teacher grants; and almost $5,000 in scholarships to high school seniors heading to college. Jen Jantzen is the executive director of the Foundation. She says contributions also put thousands of dollars in school supplies to the Classroom Closet, which provides all school supplies for students throughout the year. Jantzen says the supplies are available throughout the year.

The Foundation's annual gala is set for Saturday, May 6^th at USAO. It's a western theme, and will focus on the 150th anniversary of the Chisholm Trail. Tickets are $35 per person.

Coffee with a Cop

            Chickasha residents are invited to meet the city's police chief and a couple of officers this morning. It's coffee with a cop. Chief Stewart Steele invites residents to meet law enforcement in a non-formal setting, and get to know their local police. That's from 9-11 this morning, and the donut store located next to Brandt's.

Special Olympics coming up!

            As Chickasha's Stewart and Beth Ann Meyer prepare for their walk to Stillwater for Special Olympics in a couple of weeks, another group will help kick off that event. Law enforcement groups throughout the state will have a torch run, which also raises money for the organization. There will be such a run in Chickasha. Elip Moore, a retired police officer, now a personal trainer, invites any avid runner to take part in the Chickasha leg of the torch run.

The torch run will be Thursday, May 11th, which coincides with Craig's Walk, which is held the night before Stewart and Beth Ann begin their 125-mile walk. All runners are asked to make a contribution to Special Olympics. Find information on line at letrok.org

OSURS Annual Field Day

Wheat producers have a couple of opportunities to see a lot of different varieties of their crop this week. The OSU Research Station just east of Chickasha will have its annual Field Day on Thursday. Michael Pettijohn is the director of the research station.