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Mollman Media News Archives for 2020-10

2020, Oct. 19th-24th

Saturday, October 24th

 

Fatal Crash Reported near Rush Springs

At least one person is dead following an early morning traffic accident between Rush Springs and Sterling. First responders were dispatched to the crash about 6 a.m. at State Highway 17 and CR 2770 about five miles west of Rush Springs. No information about the crash was immediately available. The intersection was closed for more than four hours.

 

One Hospitalized Following Caddo County Accident              

A fiery near head-on collision in Caddo County sends one person to the hospital. 19-year old Kiera Wishon of Anadarko was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with leg injuries where she was last in fair condition. The accident happened about 5:30 p.m. Friday on State Highway 58 two miles north of Eakly. The highway patrol reports that Wishon crossed over the center line into the path of an oncoming semi. The semi driver took evasive action but Wishon's car hit the big rig then careened off the highway and caught fire. The driver of the semi, 64-year old Terry Lierle of Hydro, was not injured.

 

Wanted Drug Trafficking Suspect Surrenders

A Chickasha man wanted for alleged drug trafficking is in custody. 22-year old Lawrence Paul Anderson, II self-surrendered to authorities Wednesday afternoon. A judge issued a warrant for Anderson’s arrest on October 7th. He's facing two felony charges of drug trafficking. No information was available regarding the warrant. On-line court records indicate the charges were requested by the Drug Enforcement Agency. It's not known if Anderson's arrest is connected to the statewide investigation into the sale of counterfeit Oxycodone that investigators say has led to the deaths of two people in Grady County and as many as 10 people statewide. Anderson's bond is set at $500,000. Anderson is also charged with a misdemeanor for assault and battery following a separate investigation by Chickasha police.

 

Rape Suspect Behind Bars

A Chickasha man is arrested and charged with rape. 18-year old Jeremiah John Davis was arrested by Chickasha police Thursday afternoon and booked into the Grady County Jail. No information about the allegation was immediately available. Prosecutors have charged Davis with one count of rape in the second degree. He remains in jail on a $150,000 bond. Davis is to announce his attorney November 5th and a preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for Nov. 17th.

 

New Telephone Area Code to Change the Way You Call

If you have a telephone number with a 405 area code, you will soon have to include the area code when you make a call within the 405 region. Why? The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will be adding a new area code to the region that is currently served by 405. The new ‘572’ area code will be activated in May of next year. Starting today, you will be able to make a call with or without the area code. However, in April of next year you will be required to use all ten digits of the phone number you are calling. The new area code will not change existing numbers with the 405 area code. There will be no changes in the local call boundaries when the new area code goes into effect.

              

Obituary

Jamie Sanders

A private graveside service will be held for Jamie Sanders, 53, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

High School Football Scores

Bethany 40, Chickasha 12

Tuttle 14, Ada 0

Newcastle 49, Washington 16

Bridge Creek 37, Douglass 16

Ringling 21, Dibble 6

Hobart 34, Apache 14

Carnegie 36, Walters 12

Frederick 53, Lindsay 16

Marlow 41, Marietta 0

Alex 44, SW Covenant 38 (Thurs)

Strother 50, Bray-Doyle 0

Maysville 15, Paoli 0

Mt. View-Gotebo 48, Fox 0

Rush Springs at Wynnewood (Saturday)

Anadarko at Heritage Hall (Saturday)

 

 

Friday, October 23rd

 

Churches to Distribute 1,500 Food Boxes

There's another food distribution program set for Chickasha this week. Michigan Avenue Baptist Church and Break Out Ministries have been working to coordinate a Farmers to Families food giveaway. It's taken about a month to organize the project. Jeff Willoughby said they had to make sure the church's 501(C)3 non-profit status was certified and that they could get enough volunteers to help distribute all the food that will be given away.

 

             

 

Earlier this week, the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry teamed up with the Regional Food Bank to distribute about 13,000 pounds of food to needy families in the region. The distribution will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. tomorrow at Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, 728 West Michigan Avenue. Traffic could be an issue. Willoughby said the route will start at 9th and Choctaw Avenue and go north on 9th Street to Oklahoma Street, where traffic will circle around to get to the church.

 

Sheriff's Office Warrant List              

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has updated its list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here's Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett.

 

              

 

If you have information regarding any of these individuals, contact the sheriff's office by calling 405-222-5085.

 

High School, Jr. High Rodeoers to Compete

Teenaged cowboys and cowgirls will be ridin' and ropin' in the area this weekend. The Oklahoma High School and Junior High School Rodeo Associations will be taking part in events in both Chickasha and Marlow. At the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha it starts with a separate barrel racing competition with an exhibition this afternoon then an open barrel race at 6:30 tonight. Junior high rodeo events in Chickasha will begin at 10:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The high school riders will have cutting competitions in Marlow starting at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. About 250 competitors are expected.

 

Talk Show Topics

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson will be on our KOOL Konversation to discuss winter weather preparedness. On Real Estate Today, our guest is Interim Chickasha Fire Chief Tony Samaniego regarding fire safety as part of National Fire Prevention Month. Look for links to both programs under the Community tab on this website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.64 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.46.

Natural gas is $3.00 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,911 and silver is $24.82.

 

Thursday, October 22nd

 

Sales Tax Collections Down for Chickasha; Grady County

Sales tax income for the City of Chickasha and for Grady County continues to fall below numbers from a year ago. In Chickasha, sales tax revenues collected from the Oklahoma Tax Commission this month were down 19 percent from October of 2019 - from $1.1 million last year to $890,000 this year – that’s a drop of about $220,000. The $890,000 received this month is also down nearly 10 percent from last month's total. At the county level, sales tax revenue this month is less than half what it was in October of 2019 - from $906,000 last year to $440,000 this month. The month-to-month collections for the county was actually up about 17 percent from the $375,000 collected last month. Use tax collections, which are those paid on Internet purchases, were up from last year in Chickasha - from $70,000 to $86,000. Grady County's use tax collections were lower - from $129,000 last year to $66,000 this year.

 

Driver Hospitalized After Pickup Rollover

A pickup rollover near Ninnekah sends a man to the hospital. The accident happened about 11:30 last night, two miles south of Ninnekah on U.S. Highway 81. 28-year old Timothy Holloway of Oklahoma City was taken to an Oklahoma City with head injuries and admitted in fair condition. The highway patrol reports that Holloway was southbound on the highway when he became distracted and the pickup ran off the roadway and rolled one time. Holloway was pinned in the cab of the truck for about 20 minutes. The trooper investigating the accident said Holloway's condition was normal and that he was wearing his seat belt.

 

Grady County Jury Docket Canceled

Grady County residents who may have gotten a notice for jury duty are off the hook. The jury term that was scheduled to start next week has been canceled. District Judge Kory Kirkland said it has been called off to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The term was to run Oct. 26th through Nov. 6th. Kirkland apologized for the short notice but said recent events made it impossible to conduct the trials at this time.

 

Photos of Retired Judges Sought

Judge Kirkland is also asking for some help to create a new Wall of Fame so to speak for all of the special judges who have served throughout the history of Grady County. Currently, portraits of all the district judges who have served are in the main courtroom of the courthouse. With the recent retirement of special Judge Tim Brauer, Kirkland wanted to recognize those individuals as well. There are two judges that Kirkland is seeking photographs for - Richard Weldon and Brent Smalling. Kirkland said he has checked with the historical society and local photographers and has not had any success. He asks anyone who may have photographs of  Judges Weldon and Smalling to contact his office.

 

Chix Library Receives Healthy Lifestyles Grant

The Chickasha library has received a grant designed to help readers live healthier lifestyles. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries provided a nearly $6,000 grant to fund a number of Health Aging Initiative classes. The funds will also be used to purchase disc golf kits which can be loaned to library users, a sidewalk obstacle course for kids, and virtual healthy food preparation and cooking demonstration programs. The library can also create Facebook portals to help seniors in nursing homes and assisted living centers connect with their families. The state department of libraries issued 23 of these health literacy grants totaling more than $160,000.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.03 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.73.

Natural gas is $3.02 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,920 and silver is $25.04.

 

Obituaries

Brent Hill

A memorial service for Brent Hill, 50, of Blanchard will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 23rd at Chickasha's First Baptist Church. He worked at the church for the past 25 years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Rudolph Hodge

Funeral service for Rudolph Hodge, 70, of Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 26th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked for PSO for 30 years. Masks and social distancing will be required and temperatures will be taken at the door prior to the service.

 

 

Wednesday, October 21st

 

Police Officer Talks Down Domestic Violence Suspect

A Minco police officer is credited with diffusing a tense domestic violence situation this past weekend after a father is alleged to have used his own son as a human shield. Corporal Ryan Clanton was called to investigate the disturbance Sunday morning, after a woman called police and told them her daughter had endured several hours of physical and verbal abuse. A probable cause affidavit indicates the victim tried to call 9-1-1 but the suspect took the phone and broke it. The victim eventually found a way to call her mother and ask her to come by to take her and the kids to safety. When the mother arrived, the suspect is alleged to have threatened to shoot and kill the victim. The mother then called police. When the officer arrived, that's when the suspect is reported to have grabbed the child and sat down on the porch with the child in front of him. The officer was able to talk the suspect into surrendering without incident. In custody is 35-year old Brenton Christopher Sanders. Prosecutors have charged him with felony counts child abuse and domestic assault and battery in the presence of a child, and two misdemeanor charges of interrupting an emergency phone call. Sanders remains in the Grady County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

 

Salvation Army Prepares for Red Kettle Drive

The Salvation Army which serves the Grady and Caddo County areas are like all Salvation Army locations across the country, preparing for the annual Red Kettle Drive. Bryan Brynlee with the regional agency says the bell-ringing will begin November 19th. As always, they are seeking volunteers to ring the bells. He says there is any easy way to sign up. Just go to the website: www.registertoring.com

 

              

 

The Salvation Army will also hire bell ringers at $9 per hour and they’ll be able to work up to 40 hours per week. Last year, the Grady and Caddo County Red Kettle drive collected $75,000 and was one of just two locations in the Oklahoma and Arkansas region to meet their goals. The bell-ringing campaign will run through Christmas Eve.

 

Several Chickasha Teachers Honored

Several teachers in the Chickasha school district are being recognized for their work in the classroom. Each school has selected their Teachers of the Year. At the high school its social studies teacher Bo Steele; at the Middle School it’s another social studies teacher Betsy Phillips; at Lincoln its 5th grade teacher Joanie McDonald; at Grand Elementary its 3rd grade teacher Jennifer Phillips; and at Bill Wallace its pre-K teacher Donna Osborn. Later in the school year one of them will be named the District Teacher of the Year and will go on to compete for State Teacher of the Year honors.

 

Grady County OHCE Holds Fall Conference

The Grady County OHCE groups have been trying to get a few things done during the pandemic. The groups spring and summer conferences were canceled as were their home-cooked meals and Indian Tacos at the Grady County Fair, and the annual Celebration of Crafts Show in November. The group managed to hold a combined spring, summer, and fall conference at the Grady County Fairgrounds yesterday. County president Myrtle Elston said they recognized two military veterans with Quilts of Honor including Rick Stitt, an Air Force Veteran who has been volunteering to mow lawns for needy families and Air Force veteran Homer Hulme who is a regular contributor to worthy causes.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $41.46 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $43.16.

Natural gas is $2.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,921 and silver is $25.15.

 

Obituaries

Gerald Scott, II

A graveside service for Gerald Scott, II, 46, of Oklahoma City will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22nd at the Amber Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Elizabeth “Ann” Erwin

A graveside service for Ann Erwin, 86, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 6th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Alyssa Seevers

A graveside service for Alyssa Seevers, the infant daughter of Derek and Amanda Seevers of Chickasha, will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24th at the Verden Cemetery. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

Tuesday, October 20th

 

Water Company VP Discusses Chickasha Water Problems

For more than an hour last night, an official with Chickasha's water treatment plant talked to the city council about why the city's drinking water was in such bad condition last month. Aaron Voss is Vice President of Operations for U.S. Water Services Corporation, the private company which operates the city's water treatment plants. Voss blamed part of the problem on issues that have affected the drinking water for many years. The city gets its water from the Ft. Cobb Reservoir and officials say the water in the reservoir "turns over" every summer and in doing so introduces high levels of various minerals into the pipelines. Voss said-

                                

Voss also said that the minerals adhere to the water lines and that chemicals introduced cause those minerals to 'slough off' the lines and into the water which presents more challenges. He said the current treatment plant is unable to properly treat a large volume of water which contains an excessive level of minerals.

 

                     

 

The water problems surfaced around the Labor Day weekend in early September. Voss said they were finally able to get the problems to subside around September 29th. However, some council reps say there are still some neighborhoods experiencing problems. Voss also stated that way to solve some of the problems is to build some new water treatment facilities but he did not say what the cost of those new facilities might be. City officials will be posting Voss's presentation on the city's website and on social media in the next few days.

 

Another Drug Trafficking Suspect in Custody

Local law enforcement officials arrest another individual on complaints of drug trafficking. Ninnekah police and Grady County Sheriff's deputies arrested 35-year old Eric Hooper of Chickasha following a traffic stop in Ninnekah last Thursday morning. A probable cause affidavit indicates the officers were at the Valero station at U.S. Highway 81 and U.S. Highway 277 when they witnessed a driver revving his engine and screeching his tires heading north. The driver pulled over and officers recognized Hooper from previous encounters. Hooper is said to have told officers they knew he doesn't have a driver's license. The officers detained Hooper because in previous run-ins he had tried to elude them. Hooper gave consent to search the car and authorities found several baggies of a substance that tested for methamphetamine. Hooper was taken to the Grady County Jail on a complaint of drug possession. At his initial appearance in district court yesterday Hooper was charged with a felony for drug trafficking and his bond was set at $50,000.

 

Historical Society Prepares for Annual Meeting

The Grady County Historical Society is preparing for its annual membership meeting. Normally the group holds a formal banquet and has a guest speaker but the pandemic has changed that format. Instead, the group will hold an informal gathering and urges current and new members to pay their annual dues and also donate the cost of last year's banquet ticket. Museum curator Pat Cunningham said the membership meeting will be held Monday, November 2nd starting at 4:30 p.m. at the museum at 415 W. Chickasha Ave. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at Alexander Eats which is inside the museum. The historical society has a number of membership options with individual annual memberships starting at $50 and business memberships starting at $200. Memberships for students are only $10. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP by Oct. 30th by calling 405-224-6480 or e-mail gradycomuseum@gmail.com

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.62.

Natural gas is $2.79 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,910 and silver is $24.78.

 

Monday, October 19th

 

Washita River Bridge Reconstruction OK'd for 2021

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission has approved a multi-million dollar bridge construction project just east of Chickasha. Earlier this month, the panel signed off on nearly $12.5 million project to replace both U.S. Highway 62 bridges over the Washita River which are just east of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The bid came under the engineer’s estimated cost of nearly $14 million. The low bid on the project was awarded to Manhattan Road and Bridge Company of Tulsa which was one of six bids submitted. Construction is expected to start after the first of the year. State Department of Transportation officials say they'll work on one bridge at a time so traffic will be narrowed to one lane in each direction during construction.  It's the second big project for Grady County awarded by the commission over the last couple months. Also getting started next year will be the widening of Old U.S. Highway 81 between Chickasha and Ninnekah.

 

Chickasha Water Issues On Tap for Council Meeting

The Chickasha City Council will get an update on the city's drinking water issues when it meets tonight. Officials with USW, the private contractor hired by the city to treat the city's water, will try to explain why the city's water was in bad shape last month. For an extended period of time the city's tap water was discolored and smelled and tasted bad. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Festival of Light Opens Nov. 21st

The 28th annual Chickasha Festival of Light is just over one month away. The event at Shannon Springs Park has drawn visitors from across the country and around the globe. An estimated 3 million lights will shine at the park which includes the estimated 25,000 lights on the more than 160-foot tall Christmas tree. Elizabeth Allen with the Festival of Light says the ice skating rink is coming back.

 

 

              

              

 

The Ferris wheel and horse-drawn carriage rides will also return. The Festival of Light will open the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 21st and run nightly through Thursday, December 31st.

 

United Way of SW Oklahoma Fundraiser Set

The United Way of Southwest Oklahoma is gearing up for its annual fundraising campaign. The Great Plains Technology Center of Lawton is hosting a golf tournament at the Ft. Sill Golf Course. It is a four-person scramble set for Friday, November 6th. Organizers are also seeking teams and corporate sponsors with all proceeds going to the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma. Contact coordinator Jenna Alston at the Lawton tech center for information by calling 580-250-5612 or jalston@greatplains.edu

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.88 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.93.

Natural gas is $2.77 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,916 and silver is $24.92.

 

Obituaries

Ralph Frederick “Rick” Ford

Funeral service for Rick Ford, 68, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 21st at First Baptist Church. He ran Ford Energy Company and served as president and treasurer of Chickasha's Little League baseball program for many years. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association.

 

2020, Oct. 19th-24th

Saturday, October 24th

 

Fatal Crash Reported near Rush Springs

At least one person is dead following an early morning traffic accident between Rush Springs and Sterling. First responders were dispatched to the crash about 6 a.m. at State Highway 17 and CR 2770 about five miles west of Rush Springs. No information about the crash was immediately available. The intersection was closed for more than four hours.

 

One Hospitalized Following Caddo County Accident              

A fiery near head-on collision in Caddo County sends one person to the hospital. 19-year old Kiera Wishon of Anadarko was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with leg injuries where she was last in fair condition. The accident happened about 5:30 p.m. Friday on State Highway 58 two miles north of Eakly. The highway patrol reports that Wishon crossed over the center line into the path of an oncoming semi. The semi driver took evasive action but Wishon's car hit the big rig then careened off the highway and caught fire. The driver of the semi, 64-year old Terry Lierle of Hydro, was not injured.

 

Wanted Drug Trafficking Suspect Surrenders

A Chickasha man wanted for alleged drug trafficking is in custody. 22-year old Lawrence Paul Anderson, II self-surrendered to authorities Wednesday afternoon. A judge issued a warrant for Anderson’s arrest on October 7th. He's facing two felony charges of drug trafficking. No information was available regarding the warrant. On-line court records indicate the charges were requested by the Drug Enforcement Agency. It's not known if Anderson's arrest is connected to the statewide investigation into the sale of counterfeit Oxycodone that investigators say has led to the deaths of two people in Grady County and as many as 10 people statewide. Anderson's bond is set at $500,000. Anderson is also charged with a misdemeanor for assault and battery following a separate investigation by Chickasha police.

 

Rape Suspect Behind Bars

A Chickasha man is arrested and charged with rape. 18-year old Jeremiah John Davis was arrested by Chickasha police Thursday afternoon and booked into the Grady County Jail. No information about the allegation was immediately available. Prosecutors have charged Davis with one count of rape in the second degree. He remains in jail on a $150,000 bond. Davis is to announce his attorney November 5th and a preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for Nov. 17th.

 

New Telephone Area Code to Change the Way You Call

If you have a telephone number with a 405 area code, you will soon have to include the area code when you make a call within the 405 region. Why? The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will be adding a new area code to the region that is currently served by 405. The new ‘572’ area code will be activated in May of next year. Starting today, you will be able to make a call with or without the area code. However, in April of next year you will be required to use all ten digits of the phone number you are calling. The new area code will not change existing numbers with the 405 area code. There will be no changes in the local call boundaries when the new area code goes into effect.

              

Obituary

Jamie Sanders

A private graveside service will be held for Jamie Sanders, 53, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

High School Football Scores

Bethany 40, Chickasha 12

Tuttle 14, Ada 0

Newcastle 49, Washington 16

Bridge Creek 37, Douglass 16

Ringling 21, Dibble 6

Hobart 34, Apache 14

Carnegie 36, Walters 12

Frederick 53, Lindsay 16

Marlow 41, Marietta 0

Alex 44, SW Covenant 38 (Thurs)

Strother 50, Bray-Doyle 0

Maysville 15, Paoli 0

Mt. View-Gotebo 48, Fox 0

Rush Springs at Wynnewood (Saturday)

Anadarko at Heritage Hall (Saturday)

 

Friday, October 23rd

 

Churches to Distribute 1,500 Food Boxes

There's another food distribution program set for Chickasha this week. Michigan Avenue Baptist Church and Break Out Ministries have been working to coordinate a Farmers to Families food giveaway. It's taken about a month to organize the project. Jeff Willoughby said they had to make sure the church's 501(C)3 non-profit status was certified and that they could get enough volunteers to help distribute all the food that will be given away.

 

             

 

Earlier this week, the Chickasha Emergency Food Pantry teamed up with the Regional Food Bank to distribute about 13,000 pounds of food to needy families in the region. The distribution will take place from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. tomorrow at Michigan Avenue Baptist Church, 728 West Michigan Avenue. Traffic could be an issue. Willoughby said the route will start at 9th and Choctaw Avenue and go north on 9th Street to Oklahoma Street, where traffic will circle around to get to the church.

 

Sheriff's Office Warrant List              

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has updated its list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here's Public Information Officer Lisa Hatchett.

 

              

 

If you have information regarding any of these individuals, contact the sheriff's office by calling 405-222-5085.

 

High School, Jr. High Rodeoers to Compete

Teenaged cowboys and cowgirls will be ridin' and ropin' in the area this weekend. The Oklahoma High School and Junior High School Rodeo Associations will be taking part in events in both Chickasha and Marlow. At the Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha it starts with a separate barrel racing competition with an exhibition this afternoon then an open barrel race at 6:30 tonight. Junior high rodeo events in Chickasha will begin at 10:00 a.m. both Saturday and Sunday. The high school riders will have cutting competitions in Marlow starting at 8:00 a.m. tomorrow and 10:00 a.m. on Sunday. About 250 competitors are expected.

 

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson will be on our KOOL Konversation to discuss winter weather preparedness. Find a link to the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.64 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.46.

Natural gas is $3.00 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,911 and silver is $24.82.

 

 

Thursday, October 22nd

 

Sales Tax Collections Down for Chickasha; Grady County

Sales tax income for the City of Chickasha and for Grady County continues to fall below numbers from a year ago. In Chickasha, sales tax revenues collected from the Oklahoma Tax Commission this month were down 19 percent from October of 2019 - from $1.1 million last year to $890,000 this year – that’s a drop of about $220,000. The $890,000 received this month is also down nearly 10 percent from last month's total. At the county level, sales tax revenue this month is less than half what it was in October of 2019 - from $906,000 last year to $440,000 this month. The month-to-month collections for the county was actually up about 17 percent from the $375,000 collected last month. Use tax collections, which are those paid on Internet purchases, were up from last year in Chickasha - from $70,000 to $86,000. Grady County's use tax collections were lower - from $129,000 last year to $66,000 this year.

 

Driver Hospitalized After Pickup Rollover

A pickup rollover near Ninnekah sends a man to the hospital. The accident happened about 11:30 last night, two miles south of Ninnekah on U.S. Highway 81. 28-year old Timothy Holloway of Oklahoma City was taken to an Oklahoma City with head injuries and admitted in fair condition. The highway patrol reports that Holloway was southbound on the highway when he became distracted and the pickup ran off the roadway and rolled one time. Holloway was pinned in the cab of the truck for about 20 minutes. The trooper investigating the accident said Holloway's condition was normal and that he was wearing his seat belt.

 

Grady County Jury Docket Canceled

Grady County residents who may have gotten a notice for jury duty are off the hook. The jury term that was scheduled to start next week has been canceled. District Judge Kory Kirkland said it has been called off to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The term was to run Oct. 26th through Nov. 6th. Kirkland apologized for the short notice but said recent events made it impossible to conduct the trials at this time.

 

Photos of Retired Judges Sought

Judge Kirkland is also asking for some help to create a new Wall of Fame so to speak for all of the special judges who have served throughout the history of Grady County. Currently, portraits of all the district judges who have served are in the main courtroom of the courthouse. With the recent retirement of special Judge Tim Brauer, Kirkland wanted to recognize those individuals as well. There are two judges that Kirkland is seeking photographs for - Richard Weldon and Brent Smalling. Kirkland said he has checked with the historical society and local photographers and has not had any success. He asks anyone who may have photographs of  Judges Weldon and Smalling to contact his office.

 

Chix Library Receives Healthy Lifestyles Grant

The Chickasha library has received a grant designed to help readers live healthier lifestyles. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries provided a nearly $6,000 grant to fund a number of Health Aging Initiative classes. The funds will also be used to purchase disc golf kits which can be loaned to library users, a sidewalk obstacle course for kids, and virtual healthy food preparation and cooking demonstration programs. The library can also create Facebook portals to help seniors in nursing homes and assisted living centers connect with their families. The state department of libraries issued 23 of these health literacy grants totaling more than $160,000.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.03 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.73.

Natural gas is $3.02 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,920 and silver is $25.04.

 

Obituaries

Brent Hill

A memorial service for Brent Hill, 50, of Blanchard will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 23rd at Chickasha's First Baptist Church. He worked at the church for the past 25 years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Rudolph Hodge

Funeral service for Rudolph Hodge, 70, of Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 26th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Army veteran and worked for PSO for 30 years. Masks and social distancing will be required and temperatures will be taken at the door prior to the service.

 

 

Wednesday, October 21st

 

Police Officer Talks Down Domestic Violence Suspect

A Minco police officer is credited with diffusing a tense domestic violence situation this past weekend after a father is alleged to have used his own son as a human shield. Corporal Ryan Clanton was called to investigate the disturbance Sunday morning, after a woman called police and told them her daughter had endured several hours of physical and verbal abuse. A probable cause affidavit indicates the victim tried to call 9-1-1 but the suspect took the phone and broke it. The victim eventually found a way to call her mother and ask her to come by to take her and the kids to safety. When the mother arrived, the suspect is alleged to have threatened to shoot and kill the victim. The mother then called police. When the officer arrived, that's when the suspect is reported to have grabbed the child and sat down on the porch with the child in front of him. The officer was able to talk the suspect into surrendering without incident. In custody is 35-year old Brenton Christopher Sanders. Prosecutors have charged him with felony counts child abuse and domestic assault and battery in the presence of a child, and two misdemeanor charges of interrupting an emergency phone call. Sanders remains in the Grady County Jail on a $75,000 bond.

 

Salvation Army Prepares for Red Kettle Drive

The Salvation Army which serves the Grady and Caddo County areas are like all Salvation Army locations across the country, preparing for the annual Red Kettle Drive. Bryan Brynlee with the regional agency says the bell-ringing will begin November 19th. As always, they are seeking volunteers to ring the bells. He says there is any easy way to sign up. Just go to the website: www.registertoring.com

 

              

 

The Salvation Army will also hire bell ringers at $9 per hour and they’ll be able to work up to 40 hours per week. Last year, the Grady and Caddo County Red Kettle drive collected $75,000 and was one of just two locations in the Oklahoma and Arkansas region to meet their goals. The bell-ringing campaign will run through Christmas Eve.

 

Several Chickasha Teachers Honored

Several teachers in the Chickasha school district are being recognized for their work in the classroom. Each school has selected their Teachers of the Year. At the high school its social studies teacher Bo Steele; at the Middle School it’s another social studies teacher Betsy Phillips; at Lincoln its 5th grade teacher Joanie McDonald; at Grand Elementary its 3rd grade teacher Jennifer Phillips; and at Bill Wallace its pre-K teacher Donna Osborn. Later in the school year one of them will be named the District Teacher of the Year and will go on to compete for State Teacher of the Year honors.

 

Grady County OHCE Holds Fall Conference

The Grady County OHCE groups have been trying to get a few things done during the pandemic. The groups spring and summer conferences were canceled as were their home-cooked meals and Indian Tacos at the Grady County Fair, and the annual Celebration of Crafts Show in November. The group managed to hold a combined spring, summer, and fall conference at the Grady County Fairgrounds yesterday. County president Myrtle Elston said they recognized two military veterans with Quilts of Honor including Rick Stitt, an Air Force Veteran who has been volunteering to mow lawns for needy families and Air Force veteran Homer Hulme who is a regular contributor to worthy causes.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $41.46 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $43.16.

Natural gas is $2.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,921 and silver is $25.15.

 

Obituaries

Gerald Scott, II

A graveside service for Gerald Scott, II, 46, of Oklahoma City will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 22nd at the Amber Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Elizabeth “Ann” Erwin

A graveside service for Ann Erwin, 86, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 6th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Alyssa Seevers

A graveside service for Alyssa Seevers, the infant daughter of Derek and Amanda Seevers of Chickasha, will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 24th at the Verden Cemetery. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

 

Tuesday, October 20th

 

Water Company VP Discusses Chickasha Water Problems

For more than an hour last night, an official with Chickasha's water treatment plant talked to the city council about why the city's drinking water was in such bad condition last month. Aaron Voss is Vice President of Operations for U.S. Water Services Corporation, the private company which operates the city's water treatment plants. Voss blamed part of the problem on issues that have affected the drinking water for many years. The city gets its water from the Ft. Cobb Reservoir and officials say the water in the reservoir "turns over" every summer and in doing so introduces high levels of various minerals into the pipelines. Voss said-

                                

Voss also said that the minerals adhere to the water lines and that chemicals introduced cause those minerals to 'slough off' the lines and into the water which presents more challenges. He said the current treatment plant is unable to properly treat a large volume of water which contains an excessive level of minerals.

 

                     

 

The water problems surfaced around the Labor Day weekend in early September. Voss said they were finally able to get the problems to subside around September 29th. However, some council reps say there are still some neighborhoods experiencing problems. Voss also stated that way to solve some of the problems is to build some new water treatment facilities but he did not say what the cost of those new facilities might be. City officials will be posting Voss's presentation on the city's website and on social media in the next few days.

 

Another Drug Trafficking Suspect in Custody

Local law enforcement officials arrest another individual on complaints of drug trafficking. Ninnekah police and Grady County Sheriff's deputies arrested 35-year old Eric Hooper of Chickasha following a traffic stop in Ninnekah last Thursday morning. A probable cause affidavit indicates the officers were at the Valero station at U.S. Highway 81 and U.S. Highway 277 when they witnessed a driver revving his engine and screeching his tires heading north. The driver pulled over and officers recognized Hooper from previous encounters. Hooper is said to have told officers they knew he doesn't have a driver's license. The officers detained Hooper because in previous run-ins he had tried to elude them. Hooper gave consent to search the car and authorities found several baggies of a substance that tested for methamphetamine. Hooper was taken to the Grady County Jail on a complaint of drug possession. At his initial appearance in district court yesterday Hooper was charged with a felony for drug trafficking and his bond was set at $50,000.

 

Historical Society Prepares for Annual Meeting

The Grady County Historical Society is preparing for its annual membership meeting. Normally the group holds a formal banquet and has a guest speaker but the pandemic has changed that format. Instead, the group will hold an informal gathering and urges current and new members to pay their annual dues and also donate the cost of last year's banquet ticket. Museum curator Pat Cunningham said the membership meeting will be held Monday, November 2nd starting at 4:30 p.m. at the museum at 415 W. Chickasha Ave. Hors d’oeuvres will be served at Alexander Eats which is inside the museum. The historical society has a number of membership options with individual annual memberships starting at $50 and business memberships starting at $200. Memberships for students are only $10. Those who plan to attend are asked to RSVP by Oct. 30th by calling 405-224-6480 or e-mail gradycomuseum@gmail.com

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.62.

Natural gas is $2.79 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,910 and silver is $24.78.

 

 

Monday, October 19th

 

Washita River Bridge Reconstruction OK'd for 2021

The Oklahoma Transportation Commission has approved a multi-million dollar bridge construction project just east of Chickasha. Earlier this month, the panel signed off on nearly $12.5 million project to replace both U.S. Highway 62 bridges over the Washita River which are just east of the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. The bid came under the engineer’s estimated cost of nearly $14 million. The low bid on the project was awarded to Manhattan Road and Bridge Company of Tulsa which was one of six bids submitted. Construction is expected to start after the first of the year. State Department of Transportation officials say they'll work on one bridge at a time so traffic will be narrowed to one lane in each direction during construction.  It's the second big project for Grady County awarded by the commission over the last couple months. Also getting started next year will be the widening of Old U.S. Highway 81 between Chickasha and Ninnekah.

 

Chickasha Water Issues On Tap for Council Meeting

The Chickasha City Council will get an update on the city's drinking water issues when it meets tonight. Officials with USW, the private contractor hired by the city to treat the city's water, will try to explain why the city's water was in bad shape last month. For an extended period of time the city's tap water was discolored and smelled and tasted bad. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Festival of Light Opens Nov. 21st

The 28th annual Chickasha Festival of Light is just over one month away. The event at Shannon Springs Park has drawn visitors from across the country and around the globe. An estimated 3 million lights will shine at the park which includes the estimated 25,000 lights on the more than 160-foot tall Christmas tree. Elizabeth Allen with the Festival of Light says the ice skating rink is coming back.

 

 

              

              

 

The Ferris wheel and horse-drawn carriage rides will also return. The Festival of Light will open the Saturday before Thanksgiving, November 21st and run nightly through Thursday, December 31st.

 

United Way of SW Oklahoma Fundraiser Set

The United Way of Southwest Oklahoma is gearing up for its annual fundraising campaign. The Great Plains Technology Center of Lawton is hosting a golf tournament at the Ft. Sill Golf Course. It is a four-person scramble set for Friday, November 6th. Organizers are also seeking teams and corporate sponsors with all proceeds going to the United Way of Southwest Oklahoma. Contact coordinator Jenna Alston at the Lawton tech center for information by calling 580-250-5612 or jalston@greatplains.edu

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.88 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.93.

Natural gas is $2.77 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,916 and silver is $24.92.

 

Obituaries

Ralph Frederick “Rick” Ford

Funeral service for Rick Ford, 68, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 21st at First Baptist Church. He ran Ford Energy Company and served as president and treasurer of Chickasha's Little League baseball program for many years. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to The American Heart Association.

 

 

2020, Oct. 12th-17th

Saturday, October 17th

 

Trucker Dies in Turnpike Crash

A Moore truck driver died when his semi ran off the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and crashed into a fence and some trees. 31-year old Chevalier Mills was pronounced dead at the scene by a medical examiner. The accident happened about 2:00 a.m. Friday in the eastbound lanes of the turnpike near mile marker 101. The highway patrol says the accident is still under investigation.

 

Driver Hurt in ATV Rollover              

An ATV driver is hospitalized after a rollover accident in the small town of Gotebo which is west of Carnegie. 44-year old Edwin Hamlett of Gotebo was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with head injuries and admitted in serious condition. The highway patrol reports that Hamlett was speeding down Main Street and trying to turn on a side street when the ATV rolled several times. He was thrown off the vehicle and was not wearing a helmet.

              

Coronavirus Update              

A ninth person in Chickasha has died from COVID-19. The state health department said a man 50-64 years old was one of 11 new fatalities in Oklahoma from the disease. The total number of deaths in Grady County is now at 14 and the number of deaths statewide is 1,154. Chickasha has now had more than 720 people test positive for the coronavirus. 633 of them have recovered and there are 79 active cases. For all of Grady County there have been more than 1,400 positive tests and there are nearly 200 active cases. In Blanchard, 484 people have tested positive and 380 have recovered and there are 103 active cases. In Tuttle there have been 278 positive tests with 234 of them recovered and 40 active cases. In Anadarko, there have been 407 positive tests with 348 of them recovered and 52 active cases. In Caddo County, there have been 23 deaths. There have been 1,028 positive tests and 858 of the have recovered and there are 147 active cases.

 

Weekend Activities              

There are a lot of activities going in the region this weekend. The 52nd annual Chickasha Antique Auto Club fall swap meet wraps up today at the 40-acre site of the auto club next to the Grady County Fairgrounds as well as the Fairgrounds itself. Also at the fairgrounds, the Western Oklahoma Ranch Horse Association has competitions that run both today and tomorrow. The fairgrounds also has a fall fling and vendor show that wraps up today in the north exhibit building. Admission to all events is free. There’s a barbecue bonanza in Blanchard. The Chamber of Commerce is hosting its second annual Blowin' Smoke Cookout. Two-person teams will be provided with several cuts of meat in a competition to win a $500 cash prize. Entry fee is $125 per team. The judging starts at 4 o'clock this afternoon and the public is invited to Lions Park for the festivities. Individuals can purchase a $5 wristband to sample the selections. There will be inflatable games and snow cones available at the park. Also in Blanchard today, a bike rally to support the construction of the new Veterans Memorial Park. It's a poker chip rally with five stops over the course of a 170- mile ride.

 

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. On the KOOL Konversation, David Nowlin with Caddo County OSU Extension is the guest host with Megan Montieth of Stephens County OSU Extension. There is alink to the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

 

Friday, October 16th

 

Chix City Council to Hear Drinking Water Report

Chickasha's drinking water is finally getting back to normal after some big problems caused dirty and foul smelling and tasting water throughout the city last month. Officials with the city's contractor for water treatment will try to explain what happened at next week's city council meeting. The issues started around Labor Day weekend. Officials from the contractor (USW) initially said it was a problem stemming from debris and chemicals coming off the water lines and that they were having difficulty controlling it at the plant. In spite of the problems, City Manager John Noblitt said the State Department of Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency said the water was “consumable.” The report will be presented at Monday night's city council meeting which will get underway at 6:30 p.m at city hall.

 

Cyril Rallies for Injured Teen

The community of Cyril is rallying behind a high school cheerleader who remains hospitalized after a freak accident. Jenessa Thompson suffered a fractured skull and other injuries after a goal post on the high school football field collapsed and hit her on the head. She and her teammates were posing for pictures when the goal post fell. About 150 people were on hand for last night's rally. Thompson's uncle, Davy Thompson, led the group in prayer and played music. He said Janessa is in good spirits and is looking forward to coming home. The Lawton Constitution reports that Thompson could lose the sight in one eye. Doctors aren't sure if the eye damage is permanent. A GoFundMe account has been set up to help Jenessa's family, and an account has been established at the All America Bank in Cyril.

 

Officer OK After Cruiser Strikes Cow in Roadway

An officer from the Chickasaw Lighthorse Police Force is OK after his vehicle collided with a cow. The accident happened on U.S. Highway 81 between Ninnekah and Rush Springs just after 1:00 a.m. this morning. The Grady County Fire Department reports that Ninnekah and Farwell stations and Chickasha EMS were dispatched to the crash which happened near County Road 1480.  The unidentified officer did suffer some bumps and bruises but was otherwise OK. The medium-size bull calf did not survive. The 2015 Dodge Charger the officer was driving was believed to be a total loss. The northbound lanes of Highway 81 were shut down for about an hour.

 

Formal Charges Filed Against Shooting Suspect

The man arrested in connection with a shooting in a Chickasha neighborhood this week has been formally charged in connection with the shooting. Prosecutors have charge 20-year old Beau Gwin with a felony of shooting with intent to kill. During his initial appearance in Grady County District Court yesterday, a judge set Gwin’s bond at $250,000. Police say Gwin and another man got into an argument after Gwin was driving erratically down a street where several people were playing basketball. Gwin is alleged to have brandished a small-caliber weapon and shot the victim. The victim was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was last in fair condition.

              

Delayed Passion Play to be Held Saturday Evening              

It will be Easter in October tomorrow, as the Holy City of the Wichitas will hold its annual Easter pageant. The 95th annual pageant was canceled this past spring over coronavirus concerns. The outdoor passion play is a live re-enactment of the life of Jesus Christ from his birth to his death and resurrection. The Holy City is just north of Lawton. There is no cost to attend the event and families are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.96 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $43.16.

Natural gas is $2.77 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,912 and silver is $24.49.

 

Thursday Football scores

Cache 31, Chickasha 0

Anadarko 56, McLoud 22

Blanchard 35, Tecumseh 14

Newcastle 26, Bethany 14

Wayne 27, Dibble 21

Tipton 40, Cyril 20

Lindsay 26, Bridge Creek 6

Marlow 35, Davis 6

El Reno 43, Duncan 42 (OT)

Tonight

Tuttle vs. Classen SAS at Northeast

Alex at Velma-Alma

Saturday

Rush Springs at Stratford

 

 

Thursday, October 15th

 

Man Shot in Chickasha Neighborhood Disturbance

One man is hospitalized with a gunshot wound and another man is in jail after a dispute in a Chickasha neighborhood. Chickasha police were called to the area of 16th and Oregon Avenue about 9:00 p.m. Tuesday. Officers were dispatched after friends of the victim took him to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was then air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. 21-year old Dylan Lee Johnson remains hospitalized this morning and he is in fair condition. In a press release, police say that Johnson confronted a man driving erratically and shooting fireworks at people playing basketball in the street.  The driver is alleged to have made verbal threats about shooting the people, then shot Johnson and drove off. The suspect, identified as 20-year old Beau Hunter Gwin, was later arrested at his home in Ninnekah. Police did recover a small caliber handgun. Gwin was taken to the Grady County Jail where he is being held on a complaint of shooting with intent to kill. Prosecutors have not yet filed formal charges against Gwin.

              

Ft. Cobb Coach Heads Home after COVID-19 Battle

After battling the coronavirus for more than three months Ft. Cobb-Broxton basketball coach Scott Hines will be heading back home today. Hines fell ill over the 4th of July weekend and spent several weeks in an Oklahoma City hospital on a ventilator. He was released from the hospital a couple of weeks ago and has been at the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center since then regaining his strength. Hines will be welcomed home with a drive-by parade at his home about 5:30 this afternoon.

 

Memorial Service Set for Coach Powell

A memorial service has been scheduled for baseball coach L.J. Powell who passed away earlier this week. The service is set for 2:00 p.m. Sunday, October 25th at the Chickasha High School Activity Center. Powell coached at Chickasha High School over five decades, from 1958 to 1996. Then, he re-started the USAO baseball program where he was head coach for 12 years. USAO players say Powell was not only a great coach but he cared about all of his players. Edgar Cuevas from The Bronx, New York transferred  to USAO and says Powell took him under his wing.

 

              

 

Powell died at his home Tuesday at the age of 89.

 

Quilt Shop Tour Underway

In addition to the Chickasha Antique Auto Club swap meet in Chickasha this weekend is another event that will be bringing people to town. It called the Central Oklahoma Bible Belt Quilt Shop Tour. Quilters will be making their way to more than a dozen shops throughout the state including Chickasha, Blanchard, Newcastle, El Reno, Yukon, Oklahoma City, Moore, Guthrie, and Kingfisher. The event runs through Saturday. Steelman's Framing and Gifts along with Bush Family Affair and Quilts by Gail in Chickasha are among the stops. Beth's Quilting Quarters in Blanchard and The Quilted Hart in Newcastle are also included. For information visit the website: www.biblebeltshoptour.com

 

Save Lives by Donating Blood Today              

Officials with the Oklahoma Blood Institute (OBI) continue their call for blood donations. The COVID-19 pandemic has been responsible for fewer donors coming forward over the last few months. Officials say only about one in 10 people who are medically able and healthy enough to donate do so. KOOL-RANCH radio stations are hosting a community blood drive from 11:-00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. today. The OBI bloodmobile will be across the street from the studios at 7th and Chickasha Avenue in the YMCA parking lot. Walk-ups are welcome and donors can get tested for coronavirus antibodies. Donors get their choice of an OSU or OU blood donor t-shirt. To find an upcoming blood drive in your area visit the website: www.obi.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $41.02 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $43.32.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,899 and silver is $24.00

 

Obituary

Devonta Haliburton

Funeral service for Devonta Haliburton, 28, of Amarillo, Texas and formerly of Lawton will be at 12:00 p.m. Saturday, October 17th at the Friendship Pentecostal Holiness Church in Lawton. Viewing will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, October 16th at the church. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

 

Wednesday, October 14th

 

Hall of Fame Baseball Coach L.J. Powell Dies

Teacher. Coach. Mentor. Friend. Those are just a few words to describe L.J. Powel, who spent more than 50 years coaching high school and college baseball players. Powell passed away at his Chickasha home Tuesday just three weeks shy of his 90th birthday. Coach Powell's love for baseball was surpassed only by his love for his late wife Laverne and for the countless players he came in contact with throughout his lengthy career. He is a member of numerous Halls of Fame, including the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame and the Chickasha High School and USAO athletic halls of fame. The funeral service for Coach Powell has not yet been scheduled.

              

One Dead in Fatal Crash Near Cyril

There was a deadly crash near Cyril yesterday involving a rock hauler and an SUV. 52-year old Carol Cody of Lawton died in the crash about a half-mile south of Cyril on U.S. Highway 277. The accident happened just before 1:00 p.m. Tuesday. The highway patrol reports that Cody was traveling east on a county road and failed to stop at a stop sign. A southbound semi driven by 68-year old Keith Bush also of Lawton crashed into the SUV. Bush was not hurt. The collision shut down the highway for nearly three hours.

 

2nd Drug Trafficking Suspect Has Court Appearance              

A second Chickasha suspect arrested for drug trafficking has had her initial appearance on two felony charges filed against her. A judge set bond for 25-year old Krishel Dawn Cowan at $250,000. Cowan and 27-year old Clarence Morrow are both charged in connection with a lengthy investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics into the sale of counterfeit Oxycodone laced with Fentanyl. Investigators say two Grady County residents are among 10 people statewide who have died after purchasing the pills off the streets. State drug agents have made an estimated 10 arrests since their investigation began in May.

 

Red, White, Blue Rally Saturday at State Capital              

A rally is scheduled at the state capital this Saturday to honor first responders, the military, and essential workers. Retired state trooper Stewart Meyer has helped to create a non-profit group called the Red, White, and Blue Rally Association. Meyer says the group has a permit for the rally. He said the idea for the event came as a result of negative publicity towards essential workers and that the silent majority needs to heard.


              

Also being recognized will be farmers, truckers, construction workers and others who are keeping the country moving through these tough times. There will be motivational speakers and the rally will also honor the 168 people who died in the Oklahoma City bombing. The rally will be held on the south side of the state capital starting at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 17th. For information visit the website: www.rwbsalute.com

 

Antique Auto Swap Meet Begins              

Chickasha will be the temporary home for antique car and truck enthusiasts around the world for the next few days. The Chickasha Antique Auto Club is holding its 52nd annual fall swap meet. Literally hundred vendor spaces will be set up on the club's property just east of the Grady County Fairgrounds as well as the fairgrounds itself. Hard to find parts, fully restored vehicles, memorabilia, and more will be for sale or trade. The gates swing open at 1 o'clock this afternoon and then all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Admission is free and paid parking benefits local charities. Food trucks and concessions will be on hand.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.20.

London-based Brent crude is $42.45.

Natural gas is $2.85 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,899 and silver is $24.26.

 

Obituaries

Cheryl Standridge

A graveside service for Cheryl Standridge, 71, of Oklahoma City will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 16th at the Ninnekah Cemetery. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Visitation will be Thursday, October 15th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Randie Wolverton

A memorial service for Randie Wolverton, 69, Chickasha will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, October 19th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

 

Tuesday, October 13th

 

Petitioners Fail to Get Enough Support

to Recall Chickasha City Councilor              

A petition seeking to re-call Ward 2 Chickasha City Councilwoman Kimmie Loggins fell short of getting enough valid signatures. Petitioners needed to get the signatures of 25 percent of those who cast ballots in the city council election of April of 2019 when Loggins was a candidate. The news was posted on the City of Chickasha's website. Petitioners submitted documents with 177 signatures and needed 143 valid signatures. However, city officials determined that 145 were invalid. Among the reasons was that the individuals did not vote in that 2019 election. KOOL-RANCH News asked Loggins if she wanted to make a statement but she opted to not comment.

 

Goal Post Collapse Injures Teen, Coach

A Cyril cheerleader and her coach are recovering after a strange accident. Sophomore Jenessa Thompson suffered severe head injuries and a broken jaw when the goal post on the football field collapsed while the cheerleaders were having their pictures taken. Cheerleader Coach Taylor Reynolds was reported to have suffered an ankle injury though it wasn't known how serious the injury was. The Lawton Constitution reports that at least two cheerleaders were on the goal post when it collapsed. When it fell, the goal post hit Thompson on the head. She was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital. The newspaper reported that doctors have not ruled out surgery but they are expecting her to make a full recovery. Cyril school officials have not released a statement indicating what caused the goal post to collapse.

 

Longtime Educator Janice Day Dies

Longtime educator Janice Day has died. She was the widow of the late Harly Day who was also a longtime educator and coach for Chickasha Public Schools. Janice Day was 98 years old when she passed away on Sunday, October 11th. Janice and Harly met while she was a student at OU and he was in the Naval Service at the Norman South Navy Base. The couple was married more than 65 years. Harly died in 2012. Survivors include a son Brian and several grand, great-grand, and great-great grandchildren. A graveside service only for immediate family and friends will be held at the Resthaven Memory Gardens in Oklahoma City. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children or your favorite charity.

 

New Cross Country Course Open at Chix Sports Complex

The Chickasha sports complex has added a new feature that will be popular for those who want somewhere different to walk, run, or ride their bicycles. A five-kilometer or 5K course has been developed on the north side of the complex. Kyle Marks is the Parks and Recreation director for the City of Chickasha. He developed the course within the last couple of months. The course recently hosted a junior high cross country event and this weekend it will host the state junior high cross country competition. Marks talks about the most challenging features of the course-

 

              

 

There are three different trails - one for a 5K which is just over three miles, one is two miles long, and the other is a mile and a half. The course is open to the public anytime the sports complex is open. It is free to use although individuals may have to pay a small fee during busy weekends. You can take a virtual trip around the course on the Chickasha Parks and Recreation Department's Facebook page.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $39.43 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.72.

Natural gas is $2.88 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,926 and silver is $25.15.

 

Obituary

Kent Gardner

No services were held for Kent Gardner, 84, of Ninnekah. He served in the U.S. Army Reserves. Arrangements were with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

 

Monday, October 12th

 

Another Drug Trafficking Suspect Arrested              

A second Chickasha resident is in custody following a lengthy investigation by the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. 25-year-old Krishel Dawn Cowan was booked into the Grady County jail over the weekend after a warrant was issued for her arrest. Cowan is charged with two felony counts of drug trafficking. Her arrest is believed to be related to last week's arrest of 27-year old Clarence Morrow of Chickasha after authorities found nearly 30 counterfeit Oxycodone pills laced with fentanyl in his home. Morrow is charged with several felonies including trafficking, maintaining a dwelling for keeping, manufacturing, and distributing controlled dangerous drugs, and intent to distribute. His bond was set at $250,000. State drug agents say two Grady County residents have died recently after taking counterfeit Oxycodone pills they had purchased. It's not clear if the arrests of Morrow and Cowan are connected to those deaths.

 

Longtime Judge Retires; Replacement is Named

After more than a 20-year career of serving as the special judge for Grady County, Tim Brauer has retired. Brauer spent nearly 23 years on the bench. While he retired from the bench, District Judge Kory Kirkland says Brauer is now an investigator for the district attorney's office. Kirkland has appointed a new special judge. Gina Lowe, who has been serving as assistant district attorney for Grady County, will begin her duties on November 2nd. Lowe has spent most of her career representing deprived children in Grady and Caddo counties. She earned her Juris Doctorate degree from OU and has an undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University. In a press release, Kirkland called Lowe a hard-working and skillful attorney and that she is a great fit for the courthouse. Lowe is married to Tyler Lowe and they have two children.

 

CV Tech, SWOSU Partner to Help Nursing Students

Nursing students will soon benefit from a new partnership between a couple of educational institutions. Canadian Valley Technology Center (CV Tech) and Southwestern Oklahoma State University (SWOSU) are combining efforts to get more Registered Nurses into the workplace. Graduates of the technology center's Practical Nursing program now have the option to transition to the Bachelor of Science nursing program at Southwestern. CV Tech nursing director Lauri Jones calls it a game-changer for LPNs. The first group of Practical Nurses begin their 14-month training today. She said these students could complete their degrees by December of next year. The students will be allowed to work while pursuing their degrees. Jones said the partnership will enhance the students' job opportunities and employability. She added that the major limitation for hospitals in responding to COVID-19 is the lack of staff available to care for patients.

 

New Specialist Arrives at Southern Plains Medical Group

Southern Plains Medical Group has added a new doctor. Larry Bookman is a gastroenterologist who specializes in the digestive system. He has more than 40 years' experience treating digestive diseases while practicing gastroenterology and is well-versed in diet and nutrition and how they affect general health.  He earned his medical degree and completed his residency at the OU College of Medicine and completed his fellowship at the University of California-Irvine. Bookman is the immediate past president of the Oklahoma State Medical Association and the immediate past president of the Oklahoma County Medical Association and he is accepting new patients.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.60 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.85.

Natural gas is $2.74 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,929 and silver is $25.27.

 

Obituary

Jeff Craine

Funeral service for Jeff Craine, 54, of Chickasha is pending with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

 

2020, Oct. 5th-10th

Saturday, October 10th

 

Drug Trafficking Suspect Arrested

Following the news this week that two Grady County residents died after taking counterfeit pain pills they bought - comes news that state drug agents have arrested an ex-con for selling fake meds. 27-year old Clarence Morrow was arrested at his home this week near downtown Chickasha for alleged drug trafficking. Agents with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics obtained a search warrant for Morrow's home in the 200 block of South 6th and agents served that search warrant on Monday. A probable cause affidavit indicates that they found 27 counterfeit oxycodone pills believed to be laced with Fentanyl, an extremely powerful pain killer. It wasn’t clear if Morrow is accused of selling the counterfeit pills to the victims who died. Authorities also found methamphetamine and marijuana that was packaged and ready to sell. Authorities also found a .25 caliber pistol in the home. As an ex-con Morrow is not supposed to have weapons. Morrow pleaded guilty to felony burglary charges stemming from an arrest in Chickasha in 2012. Also arrested as part of the investigation was 22-year old Kirsten Faye Cowan who, along with Morrow, faces a felony charge of child neglect. A juvenile boy was in the home which authorities say was filthy and that drugs and drug items were within easy reach of the child. DHS awarded temporary custody of the child to a relative. Morrow was formally charged with multiple felonies and remains in the Grady County Jail on a $250,000 bond. Cowan remains in jail on a $25,000 bond.

              

Chix Resident Receives Free Central Heat and Air System

A Chickasha man who has spent years helping needy families got some unexpected help himself yesterday. Aaron Burdex, who has been remodeling his home for the last several months, received a new central heat and air unit thanks to a local contractor. Crews with DeHart Heating and Air Conditioning spent much of the day Friday installing the system. Seth DeHart said its part of a worldwide effort from one of the brands they work with.

 

              

 

Burdex is humbled to have received the equipment. In all, the donated system, materials, and labor was about $10,000.

 

              

 

Burdex works with a Grady County group called ACTS, which stands for Affirming Community Through Service. The group helps needy families with home repair projects.

 

Fairgrounds Hosts Gypsy Horse Show Championship              

There is a unique horse show going on this weekend at the Grady County Fairgrounds. It's the Gypsy Horse Show Association fall championship. A Gypsy horse looks much like a Clydesdale, but they are smaller and fluffier. They are known for their gentle nature. Randy Hearon of Blanchard, who has a Gypsy horse ranch, says he's taken them the nursing homes to bring joy to residents. Riders of all ages from across the country are expected to be on hand. Among the competitions are Western and English riding and ranch riding. The competition runs both today and tomorrow.

 

Obituary

John “Mac” King

Funeral service for Mac King, 71, of Chickasha will be at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 13th at the First Baptist Church. He was a lifelong Chickasha resident and a 25-year veteran of the fire department. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

 

High School Football Scores

Elk City at Chickasha (5 p.m. Saturday)

No. 9 Anadarko 42, Dibble 7                                      

No. 3 Tuttle 35, Harrah 6

Frederick 41, No. 9 Minco 0

No. 1 Ringling 44, Rush Springs 6

Apache 49, Mangum 20

No. 2 Weatherford 23, Newcastle 17

No. 7 Alex 46, Bray-Doyle 6

Waurika 62, Cyril 6

No. 4 Mt. View-Gotebo 54, Temple 6

Snyder 50, Central High 18

No. 8 Maysville 52, Thackerville 16

Lindsay 26, Davis 20

Marlow 55, Coalgate 7

Bethany 48, Elgin 33

Duncan 35, No. 7 Ardmore 28

No. 8 Blanchard 51, Classen SAS 0 (Thursday)

Heritage Hall vs. Bridge Creek, canceled

 

 

Friday, October 9th

 

Two Die After Over-Dosing on Counterfeit Pain Pills

Two families in Grady County are mourning the deaths of loved ones who lost their lives after taking counterfeit Oxycodone pills they purchased. Mark Woodward with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics said the pills tested positive for Fentanyl which is 100 to 1,000 times more potent than heroin and morphine. He said the fake pills are responsible for at least 10 deaths in the state over the last few months. The bureau has been investigating the distribution of the counterfeit drugs since May. Woodward said Fentanyl is often purchased on the black market by drug organizations that use it as a filler in heroin, or, press the powder in to pills that resemble prescription drugs. He said its hard for anyone to tell the difference. Officials said the pills are often manufactured in garages or basements by individuals who don’t know how potent the drug is. Woodward asks anyone who has information about the distribution of counterfeit Oxycodone should contact the OBN or local law enforcement.

 

Investigation of Multi-Vehicle Crash Continues         

KOOL-Ranch news is working to get information about that four-vehicle pile-up that occurred on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike northeast of Chickasha yesterday morning. The accident occurred just before six a.m. in the westbound lanes of the turnpike near Mile Marker 92. Scanner reports indicated that an air ambulance was summoned to help transport the injured. We contacted the Oklahoma Highway Patrol headquarters in Lawton, and a dispatcher told us that a report had not yet been filed.

 

USAO Announces Changes for Second Semester Courses

USAO is joining the list of colleges and universities that are making changes in classes after the first of the year. The university will start spring classes on January 14th which is one week later than originally scheduled. The university has also canceled spring break. Another change is that there will not be a fall graduation ceremony. Normally a ceremony is held in December. Students who complete their requirements this fall will receive their degrees, but there will only be one formal graduation ceremony which is scheduled for April 24th of next year.

 

Sheriff's Office Updates Wanted List

The Grady County Sheriff’s Office has updated its list of individuals who have outstanding warrants. Here’s Public information Officer Lisa Hatchett

 

         

 

If you have information regarding any of these individuals you’re asked to contact the sheriff’s office by calling 405-222-5085.

 

Talk Show Topic

Here’s part of what we’re talking about this weekend. Michael Scalf of Blanchard is on our KOOL Konversation to discuss efforts to build a Veterans Memorial in that community. Find a link to the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $41.19 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $43.34.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,922 and silver is $24. 48.

 

Obituary

Al Carollo

Funeral service for Al Carollo, 86, of Tuttle  will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, October 10th at the First Assembly of God Church of Tuttle. He was a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army and also worked as a plumber and a horse trainer. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

 

Thursday, October 8th

 

Multi-Vehicle Crash Closes Turnpike

At least one person is believed to have been injured in a four-vehicle pile-up on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike northeast of Chickasha this morning. First responders requested an air ambulance to scene. The accident occurred just before 6 o’clock this morning between Mile Markers 90 and 92 in the westbound lanes of the turnpike. The accident closed both westbound lanes of traffic for about two hours. No details of the accident were immediately available (listen for updates on KOOL-Ranch News throughout the today).

 

One Arrested After Truck Stolen from District 2 County Barn

A Chickasha woman is arrested and facing a felony charge after a truck was stolen from the District 2 Grady County Barn recently. 27-year old Peyton Michelle Quillin has been charged with possession of a stolen vehicle in connection with the theft. A probable cause affidavit indicates that investigators were called out to the District 2 County barn on South 4th Street on Sunday, Sept. 20th when officials discovered a Ford F-350 flatbed pickup was missing. The affidavit indicates the truck had been seen several times over the next few days at Wal-Mart. The truck was recovered on Thursday, Sept. 24th. Video surveillance is alleged to have shown Quillin in the pickup. Investigators were able to talk to the her by phone and she told authorities she did not steal the truck. Quillin made arrangements to meet investigators to fill out a voluntary statement but she never did so. A warrant was issued for Quillin's arrest and she was taken into custody last Friday. Quillin remains in jail on a $5,000 bond.

 

Medical Examiner Issues Autopsy Results

of Missing Man Later Found Dead

The state medical examiner has released a report regarding the death of Todd Laird, a Chickasha man who had gone missing for several days this past summer. Laird's body and his motorcycle were found hidden in a field just east of Chickasha on Highway 62 in August. The highway patrol said it appeared that Laird had run off the highway. The medical examiner indicates that the cause of Laird's death was blunt force trauma. It appeared he had suffered numerous broken bones in the crash.

 

Master Cattlemen's Program to be Offered              

Cattle ranchers in the region have the opportunity to take part in a Master Cattlemen's course. It's being offered by the Grady and Caddo County OSU Extension offices. The extensive course will include 28 hours of instruction which will be held over several weeks. Topics to be covered include business planning; marketing; risk management; nutrition; genetics; quality assurance; animal health; and natural resources. The course will be offered virtually through a Zoom platform. The cost for the program is $100 and it will begin on Monday, Oct. 26th. Registration is due by Oct. 21st. Contact the OSU Extension office in Caddo or Grady County for information.

 

Ne'ewollah Set for Downtown Chickasha

While some communities are cancelling Hallowe'en trick-or-treating activities this year, the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce will have its annual event. It's called Ne’ewollah - which is Hallowe'en spelled backwards. The event will be in downtown Chickasha the night of Saturday, Oct. 31st. There will be some changes and businesses will be handed out treats in mini-bags and the a costume contest will be held virtually. While trick-or-treating will take place downtown, USAO has canceled trick-or-treating around the campus oval, as the campus remains closed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $39.95 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.99.

Natural gas is $2.60 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,896 and silver is $24.13.

 

Obituary

Austin Fox

A memorial service for Austin Fox, 18, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 10th at First Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

 

Wednesday, October 7th

 

Attorney Responds to Reports of OSBI Probe

of Grady County Commissioner Mike Walker

We reported yesterday that Grady County Commissioner Mike Walker is under investigation by the OSBI. The agency is not saying why Walker is under investigation. Walker's attorney, Doug Carel, talked to KOOL-Ranch News about the investigation yesterday. Carel said he was first notified about the investigation on Sept. 2nd and that agents are not telling him what allegations they are looking into. One unconfirmed report is that Walker is accused of having a ghost employee. Carel disputes that claim.

 

              

 

Carel said he is unaware of allegations that Walker mismanaged funds. Carel said he doesn't even know that Walker is the subject of an OSBI investigation. He said one can insinuate that, but reiterated that agents have not told him anything and that all he hears is rumors.

 

Teacher, Paramedics Injured in Separate Turnpike Crashes

Several people were taken to hospitals yesterday, including a couple of Chickasha first responders and a Verden teacher, when two separate accidents occurred on the H.E. Bailey Turnpike. A car had run off the turnpike and crashed near Mile Marker 90 northeast of Chickasha just before 2:00 p.m. As Chickasha EMS responded, an ambulance was involved in a crash when the driver attempted to make a U-turn at a crossover. Verden teacher and girls basketball coach Whitney Boyer was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital and admitted in critical condition with trunk and internal injuries. Hospital officials this morning say she has been upgraded to good condition. Our partners at KWTV-News 9 reported that a couple of Chickasha paramedics had been taken to a hospital. Their names were not released and it wasn't clear how seriously they were injured. The highway patrol reported that Boyer was westbound on the turnpike when - for an unknown reason – her car left the highway, struck the end of guardrail, and rolled onto its side. The crashes shut down the turnpike for a little over an hour.

 

Ground-breaking Set for Blanchard Veterans Memorial              

There's an effort underway in Blanchard to construct a new Veterans Memorial. City Councilman Michael Scalf, Sr. is leading the project with Mayor Eddie Odle, Jeff Heefner, VFW Commander Larry Mullins, and American Legion Commander Gary Hoffman also on the committee.  The memorial will be a large standing wall of etched glass with LED lights inside and an eternal flame at the top. The names of veterans can be etched on a 4- X 8-inch section of the memorial. It will recognize all six branches of the U.S. military. Scalf said they looked at a number of memorials across the country and based the design on one they found in Jefferson Town, Kentucky. Scalf said a formal groundbreaking ceremony for the memorial will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7th at 9 a.m. before Blanchard's annual Veterans Day parade. The group is also having a Poker Chip Rally on Saturday, Oct. 17th to help raise funds for the memorial. Registration forms are available on the City of Blanchard’s website: www.cityofblanchard.us

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.67 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.65.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,891 and silver is $23.67.

 

Obituaries

Mary Pearl Shannon-Jones

Funeral service for Mary Pearl Shannon-Jones, 93, of Chickasha is pending. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Mary Lou Fry

A memorial service for Mary Lou Fry, 76, of Tuttle will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, October 10th at the Chapel Grounds of Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. Mary Lou worked at Tuttle City Hall for 40 years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

 

 

Tuesday, October 6th

 

OSBI Confirms Investigation of Grady County Commissioner

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) is looking into allegations of wrong-doing by District One Grady County Commissioner Mike Walker. OSBI spokeswoman Brook Arbeitman confirmed an investigation is underway but she could not comment further because the investigation is on-going. Walker has not commented about the reason for the investigation. Unconfirmed reports indicate that the allegations could include missing inventory and the use of ghost employees. Sources tell KOOL-RANCH News that the investigation has been underway for more than a month. Walker remains on the job while the investigation is underway. Walker's district includes the northern area of the county.

 

City of Chickasha Will Not Have a Mask Mandate

The City of Chickasha will not have a mask mandate to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The city council voted 8-1 against implementing the mandate last night. City Councilman Jim Hopkins says while he does wear a mask in public it would be difficult to enforce any requirement for people to wear one.

 

              

 

Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander was the only councilman to vote for a mandate.

 

              

 

Ashanti-Alexander said he's not concerned about the politics of the measure but that an ordinance would show that the city cares about the health of its residents.

 

Child Neglect Suspects Remain in Jail

Two Minco residents remain in the Grady County Jail after being arrested last weekend on charges of child neglect. 43-year old Michael Paul McLean and 31-year old Holly Marie Wiley were taken into custody after warrants were issued for their arrest. A probable cause affidavit from Minco police indicates that the couple and their four children had been living in a home where authorities found numerous cockroaches and dirty clothes and dishes. The house had not had any running water for several weeks. A Minco police officer was initially notified of the possible neglect last month while on a walk-through at the Minco Elementary School. A child welfare worker with the Department of Human Services was called into assist with the investigation. Both McLean and Wiley remain in jail pending $5,000 bond each. The children, ages four to 11 years old, are being cared for by a relative.

 

Life-Saving Award Presented to County Resident

A Pocasset man is honored with a life-saving award for his heroics at a Chickasha convenience store last month. Brandon Keeton made a routine stop at the Bronco Corner Convenience Store the morning of Friday, Sept. 11th. When he came out of the store, he saw several people frantically asking for help. Keeton found a woman was unresponsive in her car and her face had turned blue. Keeton and another man pulled the woman out of the car and Keeton performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The doctor at the hospital said the woman would not have survived had Keeton not stepped in to help. Chickasha Police Chief Dee Rowell presented Keeton with the Life Saving Award at last night's city council meeting. Keeton tells KOOL-RANCH news about the way he remembered CPR.

 

                  

              

 

Keeton said he was notified later that day that the woman survived. He said everyone should learn CPR because you never know when you're going to need it.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $39.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.29.

Natural gas is $2.61 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,917 and silver is $24.40.

 

 

Monday, October 5th

 

Chix City Council to Consider Mask Mandate

A city-wide mask ordinance will be discussed by the Chickasha City Council when the panel meets this evening. Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander asked for the issue to be considered saying he believes the city needs to take steps to prevent the community-spread of the coronavirus. At a meeting last month, Mayor Chris Mosley was reluctant to support an ordinance saying it would be hard to enforce. The council may also consider issuing a fine of up to $100 for violating a mask ordinance.

 

Grady County Man to Receive Life-Saving Award              

A Pocasset man is credited for saving the life of a woman. Brandon Keeton will receive a Citizens Commendation for Life Saving during tonight's Chickasha City Council meeting. Police Chief Dee Rowell said Keeton was recommended for the honor when he saw an unresponsive woman in a car at a convenience store at 4th and Country Club Road on September 11th. Keeton pulled the 55-year old woman out of the car and began CPR until paramedics arrived and took her to the hospital. The attending physician at the hospital said without doubt that had Keeton not taken action, the woman would not be alive today. The council will also have a public hearing to wrap up the new sidewalk construction project on First Street which connects downtown Chickasha to Wal-Mart.

 

Authorities Arrest Child Neglect Suspects              

Two Minco residents were taken into custody over the weekend after felony warrants for child neglect were issued for their arrests. 43-year old Michael Paul McLean and 31-year old Holly Marie Wiley were arrested by Minco police and Grady County sheriff's deputies Saturday morning. Warrants for their arrests were issued Friday. KOOL/RANCH News is working to get details about the investigation.

 

Chickasha, Lawton DPS Offices Temporarily Close              

The Department of Public Safety (DPS) offices in Chickasha and Lawton are closed for the next couple of weeks. A news release from DPS indicates that employees at both offices had been exposed to the coronavirus. No driver's license testing will be available and anyone needing to renew their driver's license may be able to do so at a local tag office, or by going on-line to the website: www.ok.gov/dps and click on the "on-line services" link. The DPS offices are expected to re-open on Thursday, Oct. 15th.

 

Food Truck Title "Geauxs" to....

Here are the winners from the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship in downtown Chickasha over the weekend. The overall winner was Geaux Cajun from Tuttle which was the winner of the Savory Division. The Sweet Category winner was Metro Minis of Oklahoma City; The Most Creative Winner was The Surf Bar; and the Fan Favorite was All Time Burger and Bistro.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $37.05 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $39.27.

Natural gas is $2.44 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,907 and silver is $24.19.

 

Obituary

Harold Wayne “HW” McCammon

A memorial service for "HW" Wayne McCammon, 65, will be held at a later date. His family will have a celebration of life on the date of his next birthday, April 18th, 2021. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

 

2020, Sept. 26th-30th

Saturday, October 3rd

 

Chix City Council to Consider Mask Ordinance and Fine

Monday night, the Chickasha City Council will consider implemeting a city-wide mask ordinance. The item was placed on the agenda after a request by Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander, who believes the city needs to take steps to prevent the community-spread of the coronavirus. A proposal on the agenda calls for a fine of $100 for individuals if they are ticketed for the violation. Mayor Chris Mosley said it would be virtually impossible to implement a mask ordinance. Monday night's meeting will get underway at 6:30 at city hall.

  

Chix, Lawton DPS Offices to Temporarily Close

The Chickasha and Lawton offices of the Department of Public Safety will be temporarily closed starting next week. A DPS news release says the offices will be shut down for about two weeks after employees at each office had been exposed to the coronavirus. That means anyone needing to obtain or renew their driver's licenses, or to even take a test, will have to go to another office. Officials said that license renewals can be done at tag offices, although they suggest calling ahead to determine hours and availability. Licenses may also be renewed on-line on the website: www.ok.gov/dps and click on the "on-line services" link. The closest office to Chickasha that is open is in Norman, and individuals can try to be seen on a walk-in basis. Many offices are booking appointments two months down the road. The news release indicates the offices could re-open on Thursday, Oct. 15th.

 

Coach Battling COVID-19 Leaves Hospital; Heads to Rehab

The last three months have been a struggle for Ft. Cobb-Broxton basketball coach Scott Hines, who has been battling COVID-19 in an Oklahoma City hospital. But some great news for the family and community yesterday, as Hines was released from the hospital. After spending several weeks on a ventilator, his wife Becky tells our partners at KWTV-News 9 that there were some days when they didn't know if he would pull through.


    


The couple's two sons, Cameron and Kellen got to see their dad yesterday for the first time since he went to the hospital in July. While out of the hospital, he'll spend a couple of weeks at the Jim Thorpe Rehabilitation Center, and he could finally be able to go home in a couple of weeks.

   

Driver Injured in Big Rig Crash in Caddo County

A semi driver injured when his big rig runs off a Caddo County Road and crashes. 42-year old Buddy King of Okeene suffered head, arm, and trunk injuries in the accident that happened near the small town of Albert Friday morning. He was taken to the hospital in Carnegie where he was admitted in fair condition. The highway patrol reports that King failed to go around a curve, ran off the highway and hit an embankment and a fence. King was not wearing a seat belt. The trooper summoned to the crash said driver inattention may have been the reason that King ran off the road.
    
Rock Island Arts Festival Underway   

Chickasha's Rock Island Arts Festival is off to a great start. Today will be the most active day of the three-day event. In addition to all the art vendors, live music and entertainment, and children's activities, there's the Rock Island Ride Bicycle tour and the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship, with about 30 food trucks competing for  $10,000 in prizes. The festival runs through 9 o'clock tonight, and tomorrow the festival runs from noon to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free. The festival is centered around the city's historic Rock Island Railroad Depot downtown...with food trucks taking up about four blocks of Chickasha Avenue.

 

Obituary

Keith Singleterry

Funeral service for Keith Singleterry, 73, of Chickasha will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, October 5th at Parkview Christian Church. He taught for Chickasha Public Schools for 30 years and created the Middle School Drama Club and also served on the board of directors for the Chickasha Community Theatre. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

 

Wednesday, September 30th

 

Driver Hospitalized After Truck Hits Bridge

A box truck driver was hospitalized after he veered off the H.E. Bailey Turnpike and crashed into a bridge. 32-year old Donovan Pickett of Oklahoma City suffered trunk, internal, and leg injuries and was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where he was admitted in fair condition. The accident happened just before 4:30 p.m. Tuesday near Mile Marker 70 on the turnpike which is southwest of Chickasha. The highway patrol reports that Pickett was traveling eastbound on the interstate when he became distracted reaching down for something in the cab when he swerved off the roadway and hit a bridge support beam. The turnpike was down to one lane for about 3 1/2 hours after the crash.

 

Funeral for Grady County Pilot Held              

A funeral for a Grady County pilot who died while battling a forest fire in Idaho was held this afternoon. Ricky Fulton was 58 years old when he passed away last week. Fulton grew up in the Ninnekah and graduated from  Amber-Pocasset High School in 1980. He then attended airplane mechanic school and would eventually obtain licenses to fly planes and helicopters.  He flew crop dusters in the region and began his own business in Alex. Fulton worked as a bush pilot in Alaska and also worked for the Department of Defense to train pilots for the South American country of Columbia. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oklahoma Community Foundation of the Oklahoma Pilots Association Scholarships in Oklahoma City.

 

ODOT Discusses Bridge Maintenance Projects              

We told you yesterday about a construction project getting underway on U.S. Highway 81 near Minco. KOOL-RANCH News contacted the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) office in Duncan to get the details. An ODOT spokesman told us it’s a maintenance project for the bridge over Buggy Creek. Expansion joints will be replaced and some concrete patching will be done. The more than $300,000 project was awarded to Built-Right Construction which will have 45 days to complete the project. There will be a temporary signal light installed to help with traffic flow as the highway will be down to one lane. A similar bridge maintenance project will take place in Caddo County over Cache Creek on U.S. Highway 62 south of Apache. That is also a more than $300,000 project awarded to Built-Right Construction. That work will start after the Buggy Creek bridge project is finished, perhaps some time in late November or early December.

 

12th Annual Rock Island Arts Festival Set This Weekend              

Everything is a go for Chickasha's Rock Island Arts Festival this weekend. The Chickasha Area Arts Council has been working on the event for months and it will be one of the few arts festivals that have been held this year. Many have been canceled because of COVID-19. The three-day event will be Friday, Saturday, and Sunday with activities centered around and near the city's historic Rock Island Railroad Depot. Two other big events will be held during the festival on Saturday - the Oklahoma Food Truck Championships and the Rock Island Ride bicycle tour.
 

Bullock Memorial Center Festival Canceled

While the Rock Island Arts Festival will be held, an event that was scheduled for the following weekend has been canceled. Organizers of the Bullock Memorial Center fall festival have decided to call off the event that was scheduled for October 10th, pointing to the increasing coronavirus cases in Grady County. In a press release, committee member Secrett Braziel said they regretfully made the decision to cancel. She said the committee felt it would be in the best interest of everyone involved. She said they look forward to visiting with the community, but at this time they would rather not risk the health of their supporters and their families. Another festival will be scheduled at a later time but no definite date has been set.

 

Grady County Ag Producers to Resume Meetings

Grady County agriculture producers will resume meeting next week after a number of meetings were canceled over the spring and summer because of the pandemic. The first meeting back will be next Tuesday, Oct. 6th at the Grady County OSU Extension Office. The guest speaker will be Jeff Robe with the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network. Those attending are asked to wear masks. The program will start at 7:00 a.m. Normally, a light breakfast is served, but no meal will be available at this meeting.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $39.29 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.03.

Natural gas is $2.56 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,889 and silver is $23.87.

 

Obituary

Carolyn Hall

A memorial service for Carolyn Hall, 81, formerly of Chickasha will be at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, October 1st at the First Presbyterian Church in Edmond. She was a science teacher in Chickasha Public Schools and also was a Realtor with Century 21/Mosley Real Estate for many years. Her husband was Jim Hall who was a long-time area dentist. The couple had moved to Edmond after their retirement. Memorial contributions may be made to Chickasha's Epworth Methodist Church.

 

 

Tuesday, September 29th

 

Arrest Made in Connection with 2018 Fatal Crash

A fatal accident that occurred near Rush Springs 2 ½ years ago has resulted in felony charges being filed against the driver believed to have been responsible for causing the crash. Just last month, prosecutors requested a warrant for the arrest of 41-year old Crystal Renee Hodge of Marlow. This past weekend she was taken into custody by Grady County deputies and booked into the Grady County Jail. The accident occurred in April of 2018. Documents filed at the Grady County Courthouse allege that Hodge was driving a car that failed to yield from a stop sign and hit a pickup on Highway 81 north of Rush Springs. 68-year old Ernest Tullos of Comanche died in the crash and his wife was seriously injured. Initially, Hodge's boyfriend said he was driving the car but a witness told authorities they saw a woman running from the scene of the accident after it happened. Hodge has been charged with felony counts of first degree manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident. She's also facing misdemeanor counts of driving under suspension and failure to have insurance. Hodge remains in jail on a $200,000 bond.

 

Duncan Reaches Out to Children

Whose Parents Died in Traffic Accident

The Duncan community is rallying behind two children whose parents were killed in a traffic accident with a drunk driver over the weekend. KSWO-TV reports that hundreds turned out for a soccer game last night where one of the children was supposed to be playing. Remmy and Erica Cabrera, however, are still hospitalized with injuries they suffered in the crash.  Their parents, Eric Gutierrez and Isaura Cabrera died in the crash that happened in Lawton Saturday night when authorities say a drunk driver ran a stop sign and hit the family's pickup. A Go Fund Me page has been set up to pay for the funeral expenses and to help the children.

 

Bridge Project Planned on Hwy 81 Near Minco

Looks like some bridge work will begin soon on U.S. Highway 81 south of Minco. According to a post on the Minco Police Department Facebook page, crews are setting up the construction zone for some work to be done on the Buggy Creek Bridge. Authorities expect there will be a lane closing and temporary signal lights. It's not clear how long the project may take. The post asks motorists to be alert and attentive for those workers who will be in the construction zone.

 

U.S. Census Work Extended

The census count continues. The U.S. Census Bureau has some additional time to determine the number of people living in America. Joe Dorman with the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy said you can thank the coronavirus for that.

 

              

 

Enumerators are those individuals visiting households that have not been notified about the census. Dorman says the state gets about $1,700 per year per person living in Oklahoma at the time the census is taken. He said Oklahoma is running a little behind in its count. At the state level, leaders are hoping Oklahoma can top the 4 million mark in population when the count is complete at the end of October.

 

Journalist, Author Alex Newman to Speak              

An award-winning international journalist and speaker will be in Chickasha this afternoon to share his views on how he believes the coronavirus and riots across the country are being used to steal liberty from Americans. Alex Newman will be speaking outdoors at the amphitheatre in Shannon Springs Park. A press release says Newman seeks to glorify God in everything he does. Newman is president of a group called Liberty Sentinel Media and is said to have a global reputation for hard-hitting reporting. Recent columns appearing on the Liberty Sentinel Media website include "9/11 and How You Lost Your God-given Constitutional Rights"; and a story indicating that a coup is planned against President Trump should he win re-election in November. The program is free and no RSVP is necessary.  Newman will speak at Shannon Springs Park at 3:00 p.m. today.

 

Firefighters Contain Ft. Sill Wildfire

A huge wildfire that erupted at Ft. Sill yesterday has been contained but smoke from the flames could still impact parts of southwest Oklahoma today. The fire broke out about 1:00 p.m. Monday with four brush trucks with nine firefighters and five road graders called out to contain the flames. It wasn't clear what started the fire.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.60 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $42.43.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,889 and silver is $23.93.

 

 

Monday, September 28th

 

Coronavirus Update

The City of Chickasha is close to having 600 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus. The State Health Department reported that the number this past weekend grew to 571 cases which is 53 percent of the 1,076 cases throughout Grady County. Chickasha has 164 active cases which is about 29 percent of the total. 401 people have recovered which is 70 percent of the total. Six people in Chickasha have died from the illness. Grady County has 308 active cases which is more than 28 percent of the total number of positive tests. 757 people have recovered which is more than 70 percent and there have been 11 deaths. Blanchard has 325 positive tests and 84 are active. Tuttle is at 213 positive tests with 47 active cases. Anadarko has had 328 positive tests and 42 are active. Caddo County has 759 total cases with 116 of them active. Caddo County has had 21 deaths.

 

Chix Chamber Urges Businesses to Support Mask Usage           

While Chickasha does not have a mandatory mask ordinance, business leaders are asking merchants to consider asking employees and patrons to wear masks in an attempt to minimize community spread. Cassandra Ersland with the Chamber of Commerce says a new catch phrase is "Love Where You Live." The chamber has a number of signs that businesses can download from the chamber website that are a friendly request for patrons and employees to "mask up" as the saying goes in Oklahoma City. One says “Love Where You Live - Help Keep Our Community Safe and Open for Business”. Another says “If We Can Do it, So Can You - Please Wear a Mask”. One is a takeoff of Freddy Mercury and Queen's smash hit We Will Rock You. It says “No Mask On Your Face; You Big Disgrace; Spreading Your Germs All over the Place”. See the chamber website for information.

 

Voter Registration Deadline for November Election Nears              

The 2020 Presidential Election is about 37 days away. Individuals wanting to vote or who need up update their voter registration only have a couple more weeks to do that. The deadline to register is Friday, Oct. 9th. Applications are available from county election board offices, tag offices, the post office, and libraries. Applications are also available on the state election board website which is: www.elections.ok.gov Grady County Election Board Secretary Katrina Hughes also encourages voters who want to vote by mail to apply for absentee ballots as soon as possible.

 

              

 

Many absentee ballots have already been mailed out. Prospective voters may also request an absentee ballot on the state election board website.

 

Rock Island Arts Festival Set This Weekend

The 12th annual Rock Island Arts Festival will be held in downtown Chickasha this weekend. It's hosted by the Chickasha Area Arts Council which will have dozens of artists on hand with their items for sale. The arts council will also have a special consignment sale at its booth. There's live entertainment all three days, lots of food trucks, and a children's area. Piggybacking on the arts festival is the Oklahoma Food Truck Championship and the Rock Island Ride bicycle tour. The arts festival itself runs Friday, Oct. 2nd through Sunday, Oct 4th. See many of the activities on-line at www.rockislandartsfestival.org

The food truck championship and Rock Island Ride are Saturday only events.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $40.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $41.92.

Natural gas is $2.14 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,862 and silver is $23.07.

 

 

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