Saturday, Aug. 26th

 

Sheriff Warns of Scam Calls

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess warns residents of a telephone scam where individuals are posing as representatives of his office. Boggess has received complaints from individuals who are getting recorded messages telling recipients there is an urgent matter and that they should call. Boggess says the number provided is not the sheriff's office number and urges anyone who receives such a call to ignore it and report call to the sheriff’s office.

 

Grady County Fair Ends Today

Today's the last day of the Grady County Fair and also the day with the most activities. Fair princess Kelsi McCarthey of Tuttle will be busy overseeing many of the activities which include the afternoon stock shows, the pet show, and the 4H and FFA tractor driving contest. The carnival opens at noon and the tractor pull will have one more session at 7:30 tonight.

Cake Show and Auction

Mindy Walker had the grand champion entry in the senior division with her Orange Juice Bundt Cake. Karen Osborn had the reserve with her Italian Cream Cake. In the junior division, Delse Bradford had the grand champion entry with her Chocolate Sheet Cake and Shelby Kelsey had the reserve with a Coconut Cream Cake. The top selling cake was Kelsey's Coconut Cream Cake which brought $375. Next was Osborn's Italian Cream Cake which brought in $350. Walker's Orange Juice Bundt Cake brought $300 and Bradford's Chocolate Sheet Cake brought $200.

 

State DEQ Seeks Input on Grant for Climate Pollution Plan

The State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is reaching out to Oklahomans to put together a plan to reduce climate pollution. Oklahoma received a $3 million federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to implement the first phase of a long-range plan to deal with the issue. The DEQ will meet next week to review information about the grant, the state's plan and goals for public  engagement, discuss projects or program idea submissions, and deadlines. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 30th at 1 p.m. at the DEQ office in Oklahoma City.

 

Tarantulas May be On the Move

A late-summer phenomenon is getting underway in some areas. It's the annual tarantula mating season and they can occasionally be seen in massive numbers crossing state roadways. The mating season runs from late August through October and the spiders can move in such large numbers that they look like brown streams of water crossing the roadway. The tarantulas can be four to five inches long from the tips of their legs and weigh between one and three ounces. They are found in southwestern states and in Mexico. The Oklahoman cites information from OSU Extension indicating that the Oklahoma Brown Tarantula is typically a docile creature and sometimes kept as a pet. Their venom can be toxic to small animals but does not pose a significant threat the humans. When threatened they may stand on their hind legs and display their fangs as a warning, but they rarely bite unless they are provoked. There are natural ways to repel tarantulas without killing them. You can use cinnamon or essential oils or eco-friendly pesticides. Keep your home clean and get rid of insects that attract spiders. You can also use a jar, a glass, or a spider trap and move the spider to another area.

 

Talk Show Topic

Drew Cooper with the Chickasha Public Library and Jana Dabney with the Friends of the Library are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

High School Football Scores

El Reno 64, Chickasha 24

Minco 47, Dibble 26

Empire 16, Rush Springs 14

Tuttle 41, Cache 7

Bridge Creek 42, Lexington 0

Newcastle 34, Weatherford 14

Lone Grove 35, Anadarko 20

Cyril 52, Corn Bible Academy 6

Texhoma 50, Carnegie 6

 

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Friday, Aug. 25th

 

Medical Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing

An air ambulance which was transporting a stabbing victim to a hospital made an emergency landing near Dibble yesterday. Media reports indicated the patient became combative and the pilot made the decision to land the chopper near the Dibble Crossroads early Wednesday morning. KOCO-TV reported the patient woke up during the flight and started kicking which caused some damage inside the chopper. McClain County Sheriff Landy Offolter said the unidentified patient may have become disoriented and scared. After landing, the patient was taken by ground ambulance to an Oklahoma City hospital. The circumstances regarding the stabbing victim were not provided.

 

Suspect Faces Drug Distribution, Rape Charges

A Chickasha man on probation is back in jail and facing life in prison if convicted of new alleged crimes. 53-year old Elvis Derr was arrested this week for separate charges of drug distribution and rape. Court documents indicate Grady County sheriff's deputies worked with a confidential informant to purchase about $100 of methamphetamine from Derr earlier this week.  He was also charged with rape by instrumentation in connection with an August, 2021 investigation where the victim alleged Derr molested her after he put drugs in a drink. The victim underwent an exam at the hospital where doctors obtained DNA samples. Derr wasn't swabbed for DNA evidence until March of last year - and it wasn't until May of this year that the OSBI released the DNA report from the victim. The DNA was traced to Derr and a second unknown assailant. Derr is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

 

Grady  County Fair Continues

Here's what's happening at the Grady County Fair today. The north exhibit building opens at 10 o'clock this morning with all of the still exhibit displays, the vendor booths, and the OHCE food counter with Indian Tacos and sanwiches. OHCE will also be serving home-made meals for lunch and supper next door in the Community Building. The swine show will be at 5:00 p.m.; the carnival will open at 6:00 p.m.; and the first of two tractor pull performances will be at 7:00 p.m. (A second tractor pull will be tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.). Tomorrow is the big day for activities. Check the Grady County Fairgrounds and Events Center Facebook page or website for the schedule.

 

City of Chix Schedules City-Wide Clean Up

The City of Chickasha will hold a fall clean-up campaign next month. Residents, property owners and businesses will be able take advantage of a free service to get rid of debris and unwanted items. The clean-up will be held Sept. 20th through 23^rd which is the week before The Rock Island Arts Festival, the Rock Island Ride, and the Oklahoma Food Truck championship where thousands of visitors are expected to be in town. The debris and unwanted items can be taken to the city's Public Works Headquarters where large roll-off dumpsters will be available. There will also be a separate area for a limb drop-off. Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and then 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the 23rd. Items which cannot be accepted include hazardous materials, pesticides, paint, motor oil, batteries, or tires. Appliances will be accepted, although refrigerators and window air conditioning units will have to have Freon removed by a technician and individuals will have a show a certificate that the refrigerant has been removed. Participants will have to show a utility bill or other identification showing they are residents inside the city limits. Questions can be directed to city hall or by sending an e-mail to: info@chickasha.org.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.05 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.36.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,944 and silver is $24.58.

 

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Thursday, Aug. 24th

 

Pursuit Suspect in Custody

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in a pursuit of a stolen pick-up yesterday. The pursuit began about 8:30 a.m. near Pioneer School after Grady County deputies were called out to check on a suspicious person. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess said an individual was going door-to-door saying he was associated with Capt. Jim Peek who is a DEA agent with the sheriff's office. Deputies found the pickup and were notified it had been stolen from Cement earlier in the morning. The pursuit went through the back roads of Grady and Caddo counties at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Law enforcement involved included Cement police, Caddo County deputies, and state troopers. At one point the suspect rammed into a deputy's SUV and officials fired shots at the pick-up but no one was hit or injured. At one point, the suspect got out of the truck and tried to steal a vehicle from a farm. The suspect was captured after a short foot pursuit southeast of Anadarko. The entire chase last about 30 minutes. In custody is 33-year old Adam John Sherwood who has had recent addresses in Cement and Ft. Cobb. He was taken to the Caddo County Jail in Anadarko where he is being held on complaints of eluding police and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. He may also faces charges in Grady County. The OSBI was called in to help with the investigation as it involved an officer-involved shooting.

 

Grady County Fair Opens

The 108th Grady County Fair begins today. The north exhibit building at the Grady County Fairgrounds is open with all the still exhibit items on display and many of the commercial vendors offering their wares. Entries for the cake show will be taken from noon to 2:30 today, which will be followed by the difficult task of judging the tasty entries. The goat show is this afternoon, with the cake auction right after the opening ceremonies at 6:00 p.m. During the opening, fair honorees Rufus and Peggy McMahan will be recognized for their many years of service. The carnival opens at 6 o'clock tonight and there will be live music with Tim Brauer and the First Look Band. OHCE groups will serve homemade lunches and dinners in the community building today, tomorrow, and Saturday at noon and Indian Tacos in the north exhibit building. The fair runs through Saturday.

 

USAO Students Return

In addition to all the activity at the fair USAO is welcoming students back to campus. Welcome Week activities are getting underway. Signs are posted throughout the campus with welcoming messages and there are activities which serve as ice-breakers for new students to meet and network with their peers and other students. Students can participate in a scavenger hunt, a glow party, and a battle of the boats. Move in day is tomorrow so motorists who use 17th Street through campus will need to be extra alert for students moving into their dorms. Northbound traffic on 17th Street between Grand and Alabama Avenues will be closed to all non-university traffic from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.  The university will hold a street-and-greet event in downtown Chickasha next Thursday night and encourage businesses, and civic and non-profit groups to set up booths to show students what is available in the community.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.21.

Natural gas is $2.50 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,947 and silver is $24.54.

 

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Wednesday, Aug. 23rd

 

Child Porn Suspect in Custody

A Chickasha man is behind bars after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a child porn investigation. 38-year old Michael Elton Morgan was booked into the Grady County Jail on Monday. Morgan was wanted for allegedly uploading more 100 images and videos of child porn to Facebook.  He had his initial appearance in Grady County District Court yesterday and was formally charged with aggravated possession of child porn and  violating a state law with a computer. His bond was set at $250,000 and his next court date is Sept. 13th for a preliminary hearing conference.

 

Dad Arrested for Allegedly Harboring Fugitive Son

The father of a Caddo County man arrested for theft and deception is also now in some legal trouble. 74-year old Phillip Bailey was arrested for harboring a fugitive - after his son was found at Phillip Bailey's Apache home. Zachry Bailey was recently arrested for his alleged connection to crimes in several states. KSWO-TV reports that Apache police became aware that Zachry may be staying with his father. Investigators paid a visit to Bailey's home when they saw a new car in the driveway. Phillip Bailey told officers his son would soon turn himself in. But Zachry emerged from the home and taken into custody. Phillip Bailey was arrested on the harboring a fugitive charge on Monday and had his initial appearance in Caddo County District Court yesterday. He was released on a $20,000 bond. Phillip Bailey is currently on probation after pleading guilty to a 2019 felony bogus check charge out of Grady County where he was given a six-year deferred sentence.

 

New State Veterans Affairs Director in Place

The state Department of Veterans Affairs has a new director. Retired Navy Rear Admiral Greg Slovanic was elevated to the post after being appointed as interim director earlier this year. He spent 34 years in the Navy; held four command assignments; and served in combat deployments to Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also oversaw intelligence activities, special access programs, critical infrastructure, and sensitive activities as Chief Operating Officer and Chief management officer for the Navy. He also served as co-chair for the design and building of the USS Oklahoma Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

 

Opera Singer to Perform in her Hometown

Chickasha native Madelyn Roberson, a talented opera singer, will be performing in her hometown. Roberson, a 2018 Chickasha high school grad, is returning from a year at the Royal Northern College of Music in the United Kingdom. She'll be performing at St. Luke's Episcopal Church as part of the church's 130th anniversary arts series. Roberson made her stage debut with the Chickasha Community Theatre when she was five years old and began studying classical vocal performance at OU when she was 15. It is a free concert which is open to the public and will be followed by a reception. The concert will be Saturday, Sept. 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.35 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.03.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,931 and silver is $24.10.

 

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Tuesday, Aug. 22nd

 

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Child Sex Crimes

A Blanchard area man is accused of child molestation. Grady County deputies arrested 43-year old Justin Eugene Cowen over the weekend.  Media reports cite court documents which indicate a child came forward and said that Cowen began touching her inappropriately when she was eight years old and that the molestation continued for several years. A warrant for Cowen's arrest was issued Friday and he was booked into the Grady County Jail Saturday night. At his arraignment yesterday a judge set Cowen's bond at $500,000. Cowen could be sentenced to four life terms if he's convicted. A preliminary hearing conference is set for Sept. 13th.

 

Arrest Warrant Issued for Suspect in Child Porn Case

Authorities are looking for a Chickasha man they say shared dozes of videos and images of child porn on a social media site. An arrest warrant was issued last Friday for 38-year old Michael Elton Morgan. The warrant is for felony charges of aggravated possession of child porn and committing state computer crimes. The warrant was issued after a nearly year-long investigation which began when authorities were notified that Morgan allegedly uploaded child porn from his electronic devices to Facebook. It's alleged that there were several reports indicating that the IP address of the location the material was sent from was traced to Morgan.

 

Lindsay Shooting Suspect Arrested

The Oklahoma State Bureau of investigation (OSBI) is investigating a shooting that occurred in Lindsay over the weekend. The Garvin County Sheriff's office asked the state agency to get involved after a man was critically wounded in his own home.  The investigation led authorities to 65-year old David Towler of Lindsay. He's been charged with three counts of shooting with intent to kill and first degree burglary. The motive of the break-in and shooting was not disclosed with the information which was posted on the OSBI Facebook page. Towler is being held in the Garvin County jail on a $500,000 bond.

 

Ninnekah Woman Wins Statewide Award

A Ninnekah woman picks up a state award. Peggy Castleberry was named the Cattlewoman of the Year at the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association state convention recently. Castleberry has a long history with the Oklahoma Cattle Women (OCW) as well as the Grady County Cattle Women. She served two terms as the southwest district director and also spent time as OCW vice president of education. She has assisted with the state's Ag in the Classroom project which provides ag resource kits and books to schools; and she spearheaded an annual Read a Book a Week program where members read ag-related books in classrooms. Castleberry says she and her husband Kirk have been working on their ranch for more than 50 years

 

Chix Schools Seek Hall-of-Honor Nominees

Chickasha public schools are looking for candidates to be considered for enshrinement in the district’s of the Hall of Honor. Candidates must have been a graduate (out of school for 10 years), a former employee, or community supporter of the district. Candidates must have contributed to the welfare of humanity to an unusual degree, brought unusually positive attention to the school district, or modeled the highest personal and professional qualities for students. Nominations need to be submitted by November 1st. Inductees will be announced early next year with the induction ceremony next spring at the annual Chickasha Public School Foundation Gala. Applications are available on the Chickasha Public Schools website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.72 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.46.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,932 and silver is $23.81.

 

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Monday, Aug. 21st

 

Pursuit Vehicle, AC Projects on Chix City Council Agenda 

The Chickasha city council will discuss buying a pursuit vehicle for the police department when the group meets this evening. The group will consider the purchase of a 2023 Dodge Durango from Bob Howard Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge from a state contract at a cost of more than $42,000. Councilors will also consider several upgrades to the SUV including more than $20,000 in equipment from Metro Emergency Outfitters (also from a state contract) and a more than $7,000 camera system from Watchguard Motorola.

Two sites targeted for AC upgrades

The panel will also consider installing a new 3-ton heat-and-air unit for the bath house at Shannon Springs Park and a 3 1/2 ton system for the large concession building at the sports complex.

Extension of Railroad Depot Lease Proposed

The council will consider extending a lease with downtown developer Chet Hitt for the Rock Island Railroad Depot. During the municipal authority section of tonight's meeting, the council will consider a 30-year lease agreement with It's a Hitt Corporation. Hitt wants use the depot as a special events venue. If approved, the lease would go into effect Sept. 1st. The proposal calls for a rental fee of 5 percent of the gross revenue earned from any special event rental. The corporation would pay the utility bills and any real and personal property taxes or any taxes levied in lieu of real property taxes.

Large Grant Proposed for work on Another Historic Site

The council will also consider issuing up to a $160,000 incentive grant to a developer making upgrades to a downtown building. A company called Open Skies Group out of Texas is renovating an historic building in the 600 block of Chickasha Avenue. The firm has owned the building for nearly two years. Plans are for that building to also host special events including weddings, parties, and meetings. The firm plans to spend more than $480,000 on renovations. Officials with the city’s Economic Development Council say the project fits within the scope of the grant program and recommends the council approve the request. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Almost Time for the Grady County Fair

Grady County Fair week is here! It's a three-day event this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and is a free fair as admission and parking are free at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Tonight is the fair princess and little miss competitions however winners won't be announced until after the opening ceremonies Thursday evening. Still-exhibit entries will be accepted tomorrow afternoon. Fairgrounds marketing director Jamie Jones talks about one of the new events this year.

 

              

 

 

Another new event is the mullet contest. There will be over 100 commercial vendors, a carnival, a tractor pull, and numerous other activities.

 

Chamber of Commerce Staff Named Top Young Pros

A couple of staff members of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce are among the top young professionals in the state.  Cassie Poole and Logan Lassley were recipients of the honors from NexGen's Under 30 Program. Poole is the chamber's marketing director and was the winner in the Non-Profit category. Lassley is the chamber’s Tourism and Festival of Light Director and picked up the award in the Tourism category. Chamber president Jim Cowan said their achievements, along with their contributions to establishing a young professionals network, exemplify the chamber's commitment to cultivating an environment where emerging talent can shine.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.80.

Natural gas is $2.55 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,917 and silver is $23.21.

 

Saturday, Aug. 26th

 

Sheriff Warns of Scam Calls

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess warns residents of a telephone scam where individuals are posing as representatives of his office. Boggess has received complaints from individuals who are getting recorded messages telling recipients there is an urgent matter and that they should call. Boggess says the number provided is not the sheriff's office number and urges anyone who receives such a call to ignore it and report call to the sheriff’s office.

 

Grady County Fair Ends Today

Today's the last day of the Grady County Fair and also the day with the most activities. Fair princess Kelsi McCarthey of Tuttle will be busy overseeing many of the activities which include the afternoon stock shows, the pet show, and the 4H and FFA tractor driving contest. The carnival opens at noon and the tractor pull will have one more session at 7:30 tonight.

Cake Show and Auction

Mindy Walker had the grand champion entry in the senior division with her Orange Juice Bundt Cake. Karen Osborn had the reserve with her Italian Cream Cake. In the junior division, Delse Bradford had the grand champion entry with her Chocolate Sheet Cake and Shelby Kelsey had the reserve with a Coconut Cream Cake. The top selling cake was Kelsey's Coconut Cream Cake which brought $375. Next was Osborn's Italian Cream Cake which brought in $350. Walker's Orange Juice Bundt Cake brought $300 and Bradford's Chocolate Sheet Cake brought $200.

 

State DEQ Seeks Input on Grant for Climate Pollution Plan

The State Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is reaching out to Oklahomans to put together a plan to reduce climate pollution. Oklahoma received a $3 million federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to implement the first phase of a long-range plan to deal with the issue. The DEQ will meet next week to review information about the grant, the state's plan and goals for public  engagement, discuss projects or program idea submissions, and deadlines. The meeting will be held Wednesday, Aug. 30th at 1 p.m. at the DEQ office in Oklahoma City.

 

Tarantulas May be On the Move

A late-summer phenomenon is getting underway in some areas. It's the annual tarantula mating season and they can occasionally be seen in massive numbers crossing state roadways. The mating season runs from late August through October and the spiders can move in such large numbers that they look like brown streams of water crossing the roadway. The tarantulas can be four to five inches long from the tips of their legs and weigh between one and three ounces. They are found in southwestern states and in Mexico. The Oklahoman cites information from OSU Extension indicating that the Oklahoma Brown Tarantula is typically a docile creature and sometimes kept as a pet. Their venom can be toxic to small animals but does not pose a significant threat the humans. When threatened they may stand on their hind legs and display their fangs as a warning, but they rarely bite unless they are provoked. There are natural ways to repel tarantulas without killing them. You can use cinnamon or essential oils or eco-friendly pesticides. Keep your home clean and get rid of insects that attract spiders. You can also use a jar, a glass, or a spider trap and move the spider to another area.

 

Talk Show Topic

Drew Cooper with the Chickasha Public Library and Jana Dabney with the Friends of the Library are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

High School Football Scores

El Reno 64, Chickasha 24

Minco 47, Dibble 26

Empire 16, Rush Springs 14

Tuttle 41, Cache 7

Bridge Creek 42, Lexington 0

Newcastle 34, Weatherford 14

Lone Grove 35, Anadarko 20

Cyril 52, Corn Bible Academy 6

Texhoma 50, Carnegie 6

 

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Friday, Aug. 25th

 

Medical Helicopter Makes Emergency Landing

An air ambulance which was transporting a stabbing victim to a hospital made an emergency landing near Dibble yesterday. Media reports indicated the patient became combative and the pilot made the decision to land the chopper near the Dibble Crossroads early Wednesday morning. KOCO-TV reported the patient woke up during the flight and started kicking which caused some damage inside the chopper. McClain County Sheriff Landy Offolter said the unidentified patient may have become disoriented and scared. After landing, the patient was taken by ground ambulance to an Oklahoma City hospital. The circumstances regarding the stabbing victim were not provided.

 

Suspect Faces Drug Distribution, Rape Charges

A Chickasha man on probation is back in jail and facing life in prison if convicted of new alleged crimes. 53-year old Elvis Derr was arrested this week for separate charges of drug distribution and rape. Court documents indicate Grady County sheriff's deputies worked with a confidential informant to purchase about $100 of methamphetamine from Derr earlier this week.  He was also charged with rape by instrumentation in connection with an August, 2021 investigation where the victim alleged Derr molested her after he put drugs in a drink. The victim underwent an exam at the hospital where doctors obtained DNA samples. Derr wasn't swabbed for DNA evidence until March of last year - and it wasn't until May of this year that the OSBI released the DNA report from the victim. The DNA was traced to Derr and a second unknown assailant. Derr is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

 

Grady  County Fair Continues

Here's what's happening at the Grady County Fair today. The north exhibit building opens at 10 o'clock this morning with all of the still exhibit displays, the vendor booths, and the OHCE food counter with Indian Tacos and sanwiches. OHCE will also be serving home-made meals for lunch and supper next door in the Community Building. The swine show will be at 5:00 p.m.; the carnival will open at 6:00 p.m.; and the first of two tractor pull performances will be at 7:00 p.m. (A second tractor pull will be tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.). Tomorrow is the big day for activities. Check the Grady County Fairgrounds and Events Center Facebook page or website for the schedule.

 

City of Chix Schedules City-Wide Clean Up

The City of Chickasha will hold a fall clean-up campaign next month. Residents, property owners and businesses will be able take advantage of a free service to get rid of debris and unwanted items. The clean-up will be held Sept. 20th through 23^rd which is the week before The Rock Island Arts Festival, the Rock Island Ride, and the Oklahoma Food Truck championship where thousands of visitors are expected to be in town. The debris and unwanted items can be taken to the city's Public Works Headquarters where large roll-off dumpsters will be available. There will also be a separate area for a limb drop-off. Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and then 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, the 23rd. Items which cannot be accepted include hazardous materials, pesticides, paint, motor oil, batteries, or tires. Appliances will be accepted, although refrigerators and window air conditioning units will have to have Freon removed by a technician and individuals will have a show a certificate that the refrigerant has been removed. Participants will have to show a utility bill or other identification showing they are residents inside the city limits. Questions can be directed to city hall or by sending an e-mail to: info@chickasha.org.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.05 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.36.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,944 and silver is $24.58.

 

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Thursday, Aug. 24th

 

Pursuit Suspect in Custody

Several law enforcement agencies were involved in a pursuit of a stolen pick-up yesterday. The pursuit began about 8:30 a.m. near Pioneer School after Grady County deputies were called out to check on a suspicious person. Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess said an individual was going door-to-door saying he was associated with Capt. Jim Peek who is a DEA agent with the sheriff's office. Deputies found the pickup and were notified it had been stolen from Cement earlier in the morning. The pursuit went through the back roads of Grady and Caddo counties at speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. Law enforcement involved included Cement police, Caddo County deputies, and state troopers. At one point the suspect rammed into a deputy's SUV and officials fired shots at the pick-up but no one was hit or injured. At one point, the suspect got out of the truck and tried to steal a vehicle from a farm. The suspect was captured after a short foot pursuit southeast of Anadarko. The entire chase last about 30 minutes. In custody is 33-year old Adam John Sherwood who has had recent addresses in Cement and Ft. Cobb. He was taken to the Caddo County Jail in Anadarko where he is being held on complaints of eluding police and assault and battery with a deadly weapon. He may also faces charges in Grady County. The OSBI was called in to help with the investigation as it involved an officer-involved shooting.

 

Grady County Fair Opens

The 108th Grady County Fair begins today. The north exhibit building at the Grady County Fairgrounds is open with all the still exhibit items on display and many of the commercial vendors offering their wares. Entries for the cake show will be taken from noon to 2:30 today, which will be followed by the difficult task of judging the tasty entries. The goat show is this afternoon, with the cake auction right after the opening ceremonies at 6:00 p.m. During the opening, fair honorees Rufus and Peggy McMahan will be recognized for their many years of service. The carnival opens at 6 o'clock tonight and there will be live music with Tim Brauer and the First Look Band. OHCE groups will serve homemade lunches and dinners in the community building today, tomorrow, and Saturday at noon and Indian Tacos in the north exhibit building. The fair runs through Saturday.

 

USAO Students Return

In addition to all the activity at the fair USAO is welcoming students back to campus. Welcome Week activities are getting underway. Signs are posted throughout the campus with welcoming messages and there are activities which serve as ice-breakers for new students to meet and network with their peers and other students. Students can participate in a scavenger hunt, a glow party, and a battle of the boats. Move in day is tomorrow so motorists who use 17th Street through campus will need to be extra alert for students moving into their dorms. Northbound traffic on 17th Street between Grand and Alabama Avenues will be closed to all non-university traffic from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow.  The university will hold a street-and-greet event in downtown Chickasha next Thursday night and encourage businesses, and civic and non-profit groups to set up booths to show students what is available in the community.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.21.

Natural gas is $2.50 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,947 and silver is $24.54.

 

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Wednesday, Aug. 23rd

 

Child Porn Suspect in Custody

A Chickasha man is behind bars after a warrant was issued for his arrest in connection with a child porn investigation. 38-year old Michael Elton Morgan was booked into the Grady County Jail on Monday. Morgan was wanted for allegedly uploading more 100 images and videos of child porn to Facebook.  He had his initial appearance in Grady County District Court yesterday and was formally charged with aggravated possession of child porn and  violating a state law with a computer. His bond was set at $250,000 and his next court date is Sept. 13th for a preliminary hearing conference.

 

Dad Arrested for Allegedly Harboring Fugitive Son

The father of a Caddo County man arrested for theft and deception is also now in some legal trouble. 74-year old Phillip Bailey was arrested for harboring a fugitive - after his son was found at Phillip Bailey's Apache home. Zachry Bailey was recently arrested for his alleged connection to crimes in several states. KSWO-TV reports that Apache police became aware that Zachry may be staying with his father. Investigators paid a visit to Bailey's home when they saw a new car in the driveway. Phillip Bailey told officers his son would soon turn himself in. But Zachry emerged from the home and taken into custody. Phillip Bailey was arrested on the harboring a fugitive charge on Monday and had his initial appearance in Caddo County District Court yesterday. He was released on a $20,000 bond. Phillip Bailey is currently on probation after pleading guilty to a 2019 felony bogus check charge out of Grady County where he was given a six-year deferred sentence.

 

New State Veterans Affairs Director in Place

The state Department of Veterans Affairs has a new director. Retired Navy Rear Admiral Greg Slovanic was elevated to the post after being appointed as interim director earlier this year. He spent 34 years in the Navy; held four command assignments; and served in combat deployments to Vietnam, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He also oversaw intelligence activities, special access programs, critical infrastructure, and sensitive activities as Chief Operating Officer and Chief management officer for the Navy. He also served as co-chair for the design and building of the USS Oklahoma Memorial at Pearl Harbor.

 

Opera Singer to Perform in her Hometown

Chickasha native Madelyn Roberson, a talented opera singer, will be performing in her hometown. Roberson, a 2018 Chickasha high school grad, is returning from a year at the Royal Northern College of Music in the United Kingdom. She'll be performing at St. Luke's Episcopal Church as part of the church's 130th anniversary arts series. Roberson made her stage debut with the Chickasha Community Theatre when she was five years old and began studying classical vocal performance at OU when she was 15. It is a free concert which is open to the public and will be followed by a reception. The concert will be Saturday, Sept. 2nd at 6:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.35 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.03.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,931 and silver is $24.10.

 

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Tuesday, Aug. 22nd

 

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Child Sex Crimes

A Blanchard area man is accused of child molestation. Grady County deputies arrested 43-year old Justin Eugene Cowen over the weekend.  Media reports cite court documents which indicate a child came forward and said that Cowen began touching her inappropriately when she was eight years old and that the molestation continued for several years. A warrant for Cowen's arrest was issued Friday and he was booked into the Grady County Jail Saturday night. At his arraignment yesterday a judge set Cowen's bond at $500,000. Cowen could be sentenced to four life terms if he's convicted. A preliminary hearing conference is set for Sept. 13th.

 

Arrest Warrant Issued for Suspect in Child Porn Case

Authorities are looking for a Chickasha man they say shared dozes of videos and images of child porn on a social media site. An arrest warrant was issued last Friday for 38-year old Michael Elton Morgan. The warrant is for felony charges of aggravated possession of child porn and committing state computer crimes. The warrant was issued after a nearly year-long investigation which began when authorities were notified that Morgan allegedly uploaded child porn from his electronic devices to Facebook. It's alleged that there were several reports indicating that the IP address of the location the material was sent from was traced to Morgan.

 

Lindsay Shooting Suspect Arrested

The Oklahoma State Bureau of investigation (OSBI) is investigating a shooting that occurred in Lindsay over the weekend. The Garvin County Sheriff's office asked the state agency to get involved after a man was critically wounded in his own home.  The investigation led authorities to 65-year old David Towler of Lindsay. He's been charged with three counts of shooting with intent to kill and first degree burglary. The motive of the break-in and shooting was not disclosed with the information which was posted on the OSBI Facebook page. Towler is being held in the Garvin County jail on a $500,000 bond.

 

Ninnekah Woman Wins Statewide Award

A Ninnekah woman picks up a state award. Peggy Castleberry was named the Cattlewoman of the Year at the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association state convention recently. Castleberry has a long history with the Oklahoma Cattle Women (OCW) as well as the Grady County Cattle Women. She served two terms as the southwest district director and also spent time as OCW vice president of education. She has assisted with the state's Ag in the Classroom project which provides ag resource kits and books to schools; and she spearheaded an annual Read a Book a Week program where members read ag-related books in classrooms. Castleberry says she and her husband Kirk have been working on their ranch for more than 50 years

 

Chix Schools Seek Hall-of-Honor Nominees

Chickasha public schools are looking for candidates to be considered for enshrinement in the district’s of the Hall of Honor. Candidates must have been a graduate (out of school for 10 years), a former employee, or community supporter of the district. Candidates must have contributed to the welfare of humanity to an unusual degree, brought unusually positive attention to the school district, or modeled the highest personal and professional qualities for students. Nominations need to be submitted by November 1st. Inductees will be announced early next year with the induction ceremony next spring at the annual Chickasha Public School Foundation Gala. Applications are available on the Chickasha Public Schools website.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.72 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.46.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,932 and silver is $23.81.

 

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Monday, Aug. 21st

 

Pursuit Vehicle, AC Projects on Chix City Council Agenda 

The Chickasha city council will discuss buying a pursuit vehicle for the police department when the group meets this evening. The group will consider the purchase of a 2023 Dodge Durango from Bob Howard Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge from a state contract at a cost of more than $42,000. Councilors will also consider several upgrades to the SUV including more than $20,000 in equipment from Metro Emergency Outfitters (also from a state contract) and a more than $7,000 camera system from Watchguard Motorola.

Two sites targeted for AC upgrades

The panel will also consider installing a new 3-ton heat-and-air unit for the bath house at Shannon Springs Park and a 3 1/2 ton system for the large concession building at the sports complex.

Extension of Railroad Depot Lease Proposed

The council will consider extending a lease with downtown developer Chet Hitt for the Rock Island Railroad Depot. During the municipal authority section of tonight's meeting, the council will consider a 30-year lease agreement with It's a Hitt Corporation. Hitt wants use the depot as a special events venue. If approved, the lease would go into effect Sept. 1st. The proposal calls for a rental fee of 5 percent of the gross revenue earned from any special event rental. The corporation would pay the utility bills and any real and personal property taxes or any taxes levied in lieu of real property taxes.

Large Grant Proposed for work on Another Historic Site

The council will also consider issuing up to a $160,000 incentive grant to a developer making upgrades to a downtown building. A company called Open Skies Group out of Texas is renovating an historic building in the 600 block of Chickasha Avenue. The firm has owned the building for nearly two years. Plans are for that building to also host special events including weddings, parties, and meetings. The firm plans to spend more than $480,000 on renovations. Officials with the city’s Economic Development Council say the project fits within the scope of the grant program and recommends the council approve the request. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Almost Time for the Grady County Fair

Grady County Fair week is here! It's a three-day event this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday and is a free fair as admission and parking are free at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Tonight is the fair princess and little miss competitions however winners won't be announced until after the opening ceremonies Thursday evening. Still-exhibit entries will be accepted tomorrow afternoon. Fairgrounds marketing director Jamie Jones talks about one of the new events this year.

 

              

 

 

Another new event is the mullet contest. There will be over 100 commercial vendors, a carnival, a tractor pull, and numerous other activities.

 

Chamber of Commerce Staff Named Top Young Pros

A couple of staff members of the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce are among the top young professionals in the state.  Cassie Poole and Logan Lassley were recipients of the honors from NexGen's Under 30 Program. Poole is the chamber's marketing director and was the winner in the Non-Profit category. Lassley is the chamber’s Tourism and Festival of Light Director and picked up the award in the Tourism category. Chamber president Jim Cowan said their achievements, along with their contributions to establishing a young professionals network, exemplify the chamber's commitment to cultivating an environment where emerging talent can shine.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.80.

Natural gas is $2.55 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,917 and silver is $23.21.

 

Saturday, Aug. 19th

 

State Broadband Office Works to be more Transparent

Efforts to increase the transparency of efforts to get high-speed internet service to rural Oklahoma are underway. The Oklahoma Broadband Office has introduced a new inter-active on-line map which details the availability of the service. Broadband office director Mike Sanders says it is a way for individuals to track improvements once federal grant funds are provided to the state. The website OK Energy Today reports the state map offers information and functions that are not available in either of two maps overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The state office map shows internet service availability in state legislative and congressional districts. It allows users to search addresses; view served, underserved, and unserved locations; see reported internet speeds by location; and see areas that are getting upgrades through federal grants. The state broadband office map and both FCC maps can be viewed on the website: map.broadband.ok.gov

 

Teens Face Charges for Alleged Church Break-in

Two teenagers are facing burglary charges for allegedly breaking into a Chickasha church. Brayden Scott Miller of Chickasha and Deacon Everett Craddock of Ninnekah – both 18 years old - were arrested by Chickasha police Thursday afternoon.  KSWO-TV cites Grady County court documents which indicate the burglary occurred in June. The arrest affidavit indicates both teens admitted to breaking a window to get inside the un-named church. The youth said they thought the building was empty and wanted to explore. Video surveillance showed two masked men going through the church. It wasn't clear how investigators identified Miller and Craddock as the suspects. Both are charged with second degree burglary. Craddock is being held on a $25,000 bond and Miller is being held on a $15,000 bond.

 

Native American Artists Sought for Norman Art Show

A call is going out to Native American artists to apply to take part in a fall exhibit in Norman. The Jacobson House Native Art Center will have a juried art show which will run during much of September and the first part of November. The exhibit is simply called 21st Century, and there is an open call for artists which runs through Aug. 30th. Artists should be 21 years old, a current resident of Oklahoma or Indian Territory, and be a member of one of the 39 federally and state-recognized tribes in Oklahoma. Most art mediums qualify. Artists whose works are accepted will be notified by Sept. 3rd if they are selected, and those artists will receive a one-year patron-level membership with the Oscar Jacobson Foundation. The opening reception will be Sept 8th and the show will run through Nov. 11th. For information contact the Jacobson Native Art Center in Norman by calling 405-366-1667 or visit the website: jacobsonhouse.art

 

Blanchard Bluegrass Festival Resumes Tonight

The distinct sounds of banjos, fiddles, and guitars and unique harmonies of bluegrass music is wafting through Blanchard this weekend. The Blanchard Bluegrass festival opened at Lions Park last night and continues this afternoon and will wrap up this evening. It's a free event and individuals should take lawn chairs and blankets – and also sunscreen as the sun and heat will impact festival goers in the early hours. Some of the groups include Honey Creek Pass; Bazemore Bluegrass; Cynthia Ridge; and Riley Gilbreath at Lone Star Blue. Other groups include The Horn Family; Southbound Mule, and Graystone Bluegrass. Food trucks and t-shirt vendors will be on hand.  The festival resumes at 4 o'clock this afternoon.

 

Obituary

Betty Pruitt

Funeral service for Betty Pruitt, 94, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, August 21st at Ferguson Funeral Home. She was a teacher for Ninnekah and Tuttle schools.

 

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Friday, Aug. 18th

 

Former Coach Pleads Guilty to Child Sex Crime Charges

Former girls basketball coach Ron Akins pleaded guilty to a number of sex crimes in Grady County District Court yesterday. Akins was charged with 10 felonies including rape, attempted rape, and lewd or indecent acts to children under 16 years old. During the 15-minute hearing Akins told District Judge Kory Kirkland that he entered the plea because he was guilty. Two victim impact statements were submitted. One was read by Assistant District Attorney Morgan Lankford written by a victim who was a 13-year old 8th grader at Friend School when Akins forced himself on her several times. Now 28 years old, she said she suffers from deep emotional scars that she will carry with her the rest of her life.  Akins received sentences ranging from 10 to 15 years in prison on the 10 counts and will serve them concurrently. After prison, the now 56-year old Akins will serve 25 years of probation and will have to register as a sex offender.  An attorney for the victims said a federal lawsuit also filed in connection with the case could go to trial in late December or early January.

 

Teens Charged with Theft from Tuttle Middle School

Some Tuttle teenagers are facing charges after breaking into the Tuttle middle school and stealing some laptops and computer monitors. Our partners at KWTV News 9 report that the break-in took place last month - but investigators had little information to go on as the individual seen on video surveillance wore a mask. Police got a break in the case when a teacher was able to buy one of the laptops from a suspicious Facebook profile. Authorities said the seller was a middle school student who implicated two other students. They said they decided to break in to the school because they were bored. All but one of the stolen items has been recovered. Two of the teens will go through the Grady County juvenile court system and the other was turned over to tribal authorities.

 

Proposed PSO Rate Increase Discussion Continues

Now a follow-up to a story we had earlier this week about the state corporation commission considering a rate hike request from Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). The agency took no action on the proposal this week as commissioners say they are taking the matter under advisement. The website OK Energy Today reported that an administrative law judge initially recommended the panel approve the rate increase. Corporation Commission Chairman Todd Hiett called it a complicated issue. A representative of the Oklahoma industrial Energy Consumers, one of several groups still opposed to the increase, called it a mess. Officials with the American Association of Retired Persons are okay with the $155 million rate hike request, saying the organization is looking out for its customers.

 

Longtime Chix Business Woman Succumbs to Pneumonia

Longtime Chickasha businesswoman Lynette Johnson has passed away. Johnson and her husband Bill were the owners and operators of Johnson's Wrecker Service for many years. She also was a director for Mary Kay Cosmetics and was awarded the company's prized pink Cadillac. Johnson died August 4th at the age of 92 from pneumonia. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 tomorrow afternoon at Bible Baptist Church. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to The Shriner's Hospital or St. Jude's Children's Hospital.

 

Cars and Coffee at the Leg Event is Tomorrow

Car, truck, and motorcycle enthusiasts will unite tomorrow morning for the monthly Cars and Coffee at the Leg gathering. Anyone with a classic car, truck, bike, muscle car, modified, street rod, UTV or anything with two, three or four wheels are invited to take part. It's not a car show, just an opportunity for enthusiasts to show off their vehicles and talk about their hobbies. It's free and open to the public and there is free coffee and donuts while it lasts. It's from 8 to 11 tomorrow morning at the Rock Island Railroad Depot and the leg lamp downtown Chickasha.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.39 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.12.

Natural gas is $2.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,923 and silver is $23.14.

 

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Thursday, Aug. 17th

 

Former Coach Expected to Plead Guilty to Child Sex Crimes

Ron Akins, the former Ninnekah and Friend girls basketball coach charged with committing sex crimes against his players, is expected to plead guilty to those allegations today. Akins was arrested more than two years ago after players accused Akins of raping and molesting them. One of the alleged victims said she took complaints of Akins to law enforcement in 2015 when she was 13 years old but no action was taken until other victims came forward years later with similar stories. 14 victims eventually came forward to say Akins raped or molested them. Akins is formally charged with 10 felonies. Akins waived his right to a jury trial recently and is to appear in court this afternoon to enter a guilty plea. Our partners at KWTV News 9 report that Akins could be sentenced to 15 years in prison which would be followed by 25 years of probation. Victim impact statements are also expected to be read in court today.

 

Chix Educational Leaders Provide Updates in Forum

Leaders of Chickasha’s three educational institutions discussed their missions during an education forum hosted by the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Chickasha school superintendent Rick Croslin, USAO President Kayla Hale, and Canadian Valley Technology Center Superintendent Gayla Lutts all addressed the forum held at USAO. All spoke of their efforts to prepare students for their futures. Croslin gave an update on the improvements going on at the high school football field and other projects that are part of a bond issue approved by school district voters last year.

 

              

 

 

Hale, who just began her presidency at USAO earlier this month, said there is a record number of incoming freshmen this year and many of them are the first in their families to go to college. She wants to provide support for them.

 

              

 

 

Lutts discussed the technology center’s efforts to offer courses to get students prepared to enter the labor force to fill the numerous openings available in critical career fields including nursing, heat and air, and others. She also touched on the $75 million bond issue that will be decided in a special election next month. If passed the proposal includes about $23 million in upgrades at the Chickasha campus and the construction of a $50 million public safety training facility at the El Reno campus.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.38 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.45.

Natural gas is $2.59 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,927 and silver is $23.07.

 

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Wednesday, Aug. 16th

 

CV Tech District Voters to Decide Bond Issue

Voters in parts of Grady, Canadian, and Oklahoma counties will go to the polls next month to decide a huge bond issue for the Canadian Valley Technology Center district. It's a $75 million proposal which officials say will benefit the Chickasha and El Reno sites. Superintendent Gayla Lutts said the Chickasha campus would get some extensive improvements as many buildings are almost 60 years old. At El Reno the proposal would build a stand-alone public safety training facility. If approved, there would be slight increase in property taxes. Ad valorem taxes on a $100,000 home would increase about $30 per year. The special election is scheduled for September 12th and the proposal needs a super-majority of 60-percent approval to pass. If approved the new tax would begin after a current bond issue is paid off next year.

 

Lawmakers Want AG Opinion Regarding

County Sales Tax for Rural Ambulance Service

A couple of state lawmakers in the region want Oklahoma's attorney general to provide an opinion regarding the distribution of county sales tax revenue to support private companies which provide a public service. The question relates to a proposition approved by Garvin County voters in 2021. It called for the county to  set aside sales tax funds for ambulance service in areas that did not previously have those services.  State Rep. Cindy Roe (R-Lindsay) and State Sen. Jessica Garvin (R-Duncan) want the attorney general to comment. Roe said constituents didn't realize that private ambulance services would NOT be allowed to tap into that sales tax fund. She says sales taxes which have been collected for those services remain untouched - even though there is a dire need for them in rural areas. Roe said there are similar situations in other counties. Garvin said she and Roe are working with district attorneys to come up with a solution and that Oklahomans should not have to worry about losing life-saving services over a technicality.

 

Chix Firefighters Hold Fundraiser for Breast Cancer Awareness

Chickasha firefighters are having a fund-raiser to aid in breast cancer awareness. The firefighters are teaming up with Wing Ts for a pink t-shirt campaign. Captain Jimmy Blue said firefighters have traditionally worn pink duty shirts during October which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and that they wanted to do something different.

              

 

The t-shirt design includes the pink breast cancer awareness ribbon and the Chickasha firefighters logo. Proceeds from t-shirt sales will benefit the local Second Base Savers which is a breast cancer awareness group.  T-shirts can be purchased at Wing Ts through Aug. 25th. Blue said orders have to be turned in early because there is a big demand for pink t-shirts this summer due to the success of the Barbie movie.

 

FFA Groups Receive STEM Grants

A number of regional FFA programs are the recipients of STEM grants from Public Service Company of Oklahoma and its parent company American Electric Power. More than $35,000 in grants were awarded to state FFA chapters. Among the regional chapters receiving grants are Carnegie, Fletcher and Elgin. The grants ranged from $300 to $2,500 and are for science, technology, engineering, and math projects. Since 2018 the AEP Foundation has awarded nearly $210,000 to Oklahoma FFA chapters.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.99 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.89.

Natural gas is $2.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,937 and silver is $23.10.

 

Obituaries

‘Gene’ Howard

A graveside service for Eugene ‘Gene’ Howard, 95, of Marlow will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 18^th at the Marlow Cemetery. He worked in the oilfield and was a truck driver. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

‘Sue’ Fogle

Funeral service for Suzette ‘Sue’ Fogle, 67, of Ninnekah will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, August 19th at Vimy Ridge Baptist Church in Rush Springs. She was a drilling consultant for her family's oilfield company. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, Aug. 15th

 

Chix Has Lots of New Construction for First Half of the Year

More than $9 million in construction projects were approved within the City of Chickasha for the first half of this year. Reports from the city's Community Development Department show that 82 building permits were approved between January and June. 21 of those were in the commercial sector including both new and remodeling projects. 61 were either new home construction or residential remodeling projects. The value of new construction is actually much higher than the $9 million figure. Many of the projects listed on the reports do not show their estimated values. The monthly building reports can be seen on the City of Chickasha's website.

 

Suspected Impersonator Arrested

A Caddo County man is in custody for impersonating a doctor, a police officer, and stealing a vehicle. Media reports cite court documents from October of last year which allege Zachry Brent Bailey of Apache tricked a man into giving Bailey his vehicle. The Apache Police Department first investigated the case and a warrant had been issued for Bailey’s arrest. Reports also say Bailey is tied to a case in Texas where he was found driving a used police car and may have been preparing to impersonate an officer. Some media outlets have compared Bailey's actions to those depicted in Leonardo de Caprio's movie, ‘Catch Me if you Can.’

 

Veterans Groups to Provide Info at CV Tech

Military veterans and their families needing help obtaining benefits or other assistance will be able to meet with a number of veteran-related service groups in one location next month. Canadian Valley Technology Center will host a one-day event which will feature the state department of veterans affairs; VA medical services; VA Behavioral Health Services; Women's veterans services; and legal and educational services. The Grady County DAV Chapter 17 will be on hand as will as representatives from the VFW and American Legion. Veterans should mark their calendars for Thursday, Sept. 7^th from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. for the program to be held on the Chickasha campus of the Canadian Valley Technology Center.

 

Philanthropist Kay Neill-Wint Passes Away

Chickasha native Kay Neill-Wint has died. She was a corporate lawyer in California, owned and managed a famous Hollywood night club, and returned to her hometown of Chickasha where she was a philanthropist and supported numerous community projects. Neill-Wint was 76 years old when passed away last week following complications from neck surgery. After her career as a lawyer she purchased and managed The Hollywood Palace which had hosted numerous television shows over the years and became one of Hollywood's best live music venues. She received the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year award in 1991. Kay married Phil Wint in 2002 and the couple later moved to Chickasha. She served on the board of directors for the Grady County Historical Society, was a member of the Salvation Army advisory board, and the USAO Foundation board of trustees. She and Phil helped to establish USAO's Neill-Wint Center for Neurodiversity which helps students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 25th at Chickasha's First Christian Church. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to USAO's Neill-Wint Center for Neurodiversity.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.51 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.21.

Natural gas is $2.79 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,935 and silver is $22.55.

 

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Monday, Aug. 14th

 

State Panel to Continue Proposed PSO Rate Hike Discussion

For about the last year a rate hike request for Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) has been under scrutiny. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission has been wrangling with PSO since a nearly $295 million rate increase was introduced last fall. The proposed rate hike has been revised downward to nearly half that amount which is now at $155 million. The website OK Energy Today reports that an administrative law judge is recommending that the rate hike be approved. If the commission approves PSO customers would see a nearly $3.60 per month increase in their bills. The rate hike has the support of the commission's public utilities division, the state attorney general, and AARP. Several groups opposed the agreement including the Oklahoma Industrial Energy Consumers, the Petroleum Alliance of Oklahoma, The U.S. Department of Defense, The Alliance for Electrical Restructuring, and Wal-Mart. The commission will discuss the increase in a meeting tomorrow.

 

Union Contract Discussions Set for Chix School Board

Contracts with the three labor unions within the Chickasha school district will be considered by the board of education tonight. Contracts with the Chickasha United Teachers Association, the Chickasha Association of Support Employees, and the Chickasha Organization of Professional Administrators will be reviewed. For the teachers union, officials say they have negotiated raises and an additional year to the pay scale which would increase teacher salary costs by $1.3 million. For support employees, a negotiated agreement includes a 75-cent per hour raise and also adds a year to the salary schedule adding an additional $400,000 to the total support employee salary expense. Officials are recommending a $34 per day raise and adding another year to the pay scale for administrators which would increase the salary costs for that area by $210,000. The panel will also consider a bond bid package from CMS Willowbrook at a cost of nearly $912,000 to handle the construction management for projects at Lincoln Elementary, the middle school, and Grand Elementary. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

 

Record Melon Highlights Rush Springs Festival

A new record was set at the Rush Springs Watermelon Festival on Saturday. The heaviest watermelon checked at 225 pounds which breaks the previous record by 11 pounds. The monster was grown by Garen Bratcher who said the melon almost didn't make it through the season.

 

              

 

 

The melon breaks the previous record of 214 pounds of a melon grown by the Miller family in 2012. The Bratchers have been growing watermelons since the 1940s

 

Duncan Bypass Improvements Begin

Motorists traveling in the Duncan area will have some road construction work to contend with over the next few weeks. The Duncan Bypass will be narrowed to one lane in some areas due to a resurfacing project. Overland Corporation was awarded the $4 million work order by the Oklahoma Transportation Commission. The project is getting underway this morning and traffic will be down to one lane for about the next six weeks. It includes the bypass from just east of U.S. Highway 81 to Elk Avenue, intersections at Highway 81, Bois D'arc Road, Beech Avenue, and Elk Avenue.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.19 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.81.

Natural gas is $2.77 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,946 and silver is $22.77.

 

Saturday, Aug. 12th

 

Earthquake Shuts Down Well

Drilling on a well near Union City was temporarily shut down this week due to an earthquake. The Oklahoma Corporation Commission implemented its earthquake mitigation plan Thursday morning following reports of a tremor registering 2.2 on the Richter scale which was followed by a series of smaller aftershocks. The plan is implemented when earthquakes top 2.0 on the Richter Scale. The website OK Energy Today cited reports from the Oklahoma Geological Survey which indicated the tremor was among four recorded in the previous 24 hours. The strongest was about six miles northwest of Union City and the epicenter was about one mile west of the El Reno Airport. The well being drilled by Paloma Resources reportedly ceased operation for about six hours.

 

Rush Springs Watermelon Festival Underway

The Rush Springs Watermelon Festival will officially get underway a little later this morning. However, some early risers have already made their way to the area for both a 5K and 10 run. The 10K runners have just taken off from Jeff Davis Park and will run a route which includes much of the downtown area, out to the high school football field and back to the park. The opening ceremonies will get underway at 9 a.m....and that’s when most of the estimated 125 arts and crafts and food vendors will open their areas for business. The watermelon barn will open at 10 a.m. as local growers compete for the top prizes including the largest watermelon. The prize melons will be auctioned off this afternoon. An estimated 50,000 pounds - or 25 tons of watermelon - will be sold or given away today. The watermelon is free after 4 p.m.

 

Talk Show Topic

Liz Taylor and Shelby Kelsey with the Grady County 4H program are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Find the podcast under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituary

Oleta Brown

A graveside service for Oleta Brown, 93, of Tuttle was held at 10:00 a.m. today (Saturday, August 12^th) at the Ninnekah Cemetery. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Friday, Aug. 11th

 

Grady County Deputies Earn Promotions

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess held ceremonies this week to promote a number of deputies. In the patrol division, Brittany Mayer was promoted to master sergeant. In the communications division, Josh Huffines was promoted to captain and division commander; Amanda Cox was promoted to lieutenant and commander; and Kayla Briley was promoted to sergeant. In the school resource division, deputy Perry Settle was promoted to lieutenant and supervisor. The promotions were posted on the sheriff's office Facebook page.

 

Funeral Set for Chickasha's First Black Police Officer

Chickasha's first black police officer has died. Theodore Ligons passed away this week at the age of 85. He also worked as the city’s street superintendent from which he retired. Ligons was a U.S. Army veteran who served during the Korean Conflict. His mother Ethel purchased the first truckload of bricks used to build Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Funeral service for Theodore Ligons will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 12th at Shepherd Street Christian Church. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

 

Rush Springs Set for 78th Watermelon Festival

The town of Rush Springs is ready for the thousands of visitors who will be coming to town for the community's annual watermelon festival. The event is all day tomorrow at Jeff Davis Park just east of the downtown area. The annual rodeo kicked things off last night and there will be a second go-round tonight. That's following the parade that will be held at 5 o'clock. There are 10 growers in the area vying for bragging rights over this year's crop. Lillian Ball is this year's watermelon queen. She says growers will be trying to break the record of the heaviest watermelon.

 

              

 

 

The day kicks off with 5K and 10K runs; there are more than 100 arts, crafts, and food vendors; there is a car show, a carnival, and live music and entertainment. Throughout the day, 50,000 pounds of watermelon will be sold or given away. Watermelon is free after four o'clock tomorrow afternoon.

 

Morning of Prayer to be held at Grady County Courthouse

A number of Grady County and Chickasha leaders will be meeting for a morning of prayer to ask for spiritual guidance and support for government, schools, community service organizations, and families. Christian leaders in these areas have been meeting about once a month to pray over the sectors. The group will be meeting on the south steps of the Grady County Courthouse at 7 a.m. next Thursday, August 17th, and invite the public to join them. Among them are Grady County District Judge Kory Kirkland, who will have an introduction and prayer for the church; District Attorney Jason Hicks will pray for government; Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess will pray for law enforcement; Chaplain Luke Harris will pray for the military; Chickasha Mayor Chris Mosley will ask for guidance for community service organizations; and Minco school superintendent Kevin Sims will cover education. Michael Butler with Chickasha's First Baptist Church will pray for revival in the community; Ryan Posey will cover business and commerce; Rewa Blackstar with Wee Care Learning Center will pray for families; and track coach and electrician Shevon Blair will pray for student-athletes.

 

Second Friday Art Walk is Tonight

This is the second Friday of August which means it’s time for the second Friday art walk downtown Chickasha. Local artisans will be located throughout the downtown area with their art on display. Among the new events are a John Wayne impersonator and a chainsaw art specialist on the west end. The art walk is along Chickasha Avenue from the Leg Lamp and railroad depot area to near 7th Street to include the Chickasha Art Center. It also includes part of Kansas Avenue to include the Shakespeare Wine Company. The art walk is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. tonight.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.82 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.40.

Natural gas is $2.76 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,949 and silver is $22.76.

 

Obituary

Joe Slawson

Funeral service for Joe Slawson, 67, of Rush Springs will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 16^th at Vimy Ridge Baptist Church in Rush Springs. He served as a Grady County deputy sheriff from 1999 to 2005.

 

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Thursday, Aug. 10th

 

Area Schools Begin New Year

Today is the first day of classes for many, but not all schools in the region. Chickasha Public Schools is among them and has 175 class days scheduled over the next nine months. As students return to the classroom there has been a last-minute change at Grand Elementary where students and parents will see a familiar face back in the principal's office. Kathy Wenzel was named interim principal just this week. For the last several years she served as the assistant principal at Bill Wallace and prior to that she was the principal at Grand. Wenzel will fill the post which was previously held by Dereth Harrison. Harrison was just hired by Ninnekah schools to be the elementary school principal there. Wenzel is among the most veteran of teachers and administrators for Chickasha. She is in her 32nd year in education with all of them being with the Chickasha school district. She has worked at virtually every school site either as a teacher, counselor, or administrator.

 

Blanchard Driver Hospitalized After Accident

An SUV crash in McClain County sends a Blanchard woman to the hospital. 65-year old Tammy Durgen suffered head and neck injuries in the accident and was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was last in good condition. The accident happened just after noon Wednesday on State Highway 39 north of Purcell. The highway patrol reports that Durgen's SUV ran off the highway, hit a culvert, then came to rest against a utility pole. The trooper indicated that speed may have been a factor. Durgen was wearing her seat belt.

 

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Truck Theft

A Chickasha woman was arrested and charged for allegedly stealing a truck. 40-year old Jessica Renee Trent was taken into custody by police after the victim reported his truck was taken without his permission this past Sunday. Officials were summoned to a home in the 600 block of North 2nd Street about 4 o'clock that afternoon to take the report. A witness said they saw Trent take the truck. A few hours later, police spotted the vehicle at the Dollar General Store at 6th and Grand and found Trent inside the store where she was arrested and taken to the Grady County Jail. A probable cause affidavit indicates Trent told the officer she took the truck to get some drinks and that she probably should have taken the truck back sooner. Trent has been charged with a felony for possession of stolen vehicle. She remains in jail in lieu of a $10,000 bond.

 

Suspected Reckless Driver Accused of Assaulting Cop

A Tuttle woman was arrested and charged for allegedly assaulting a police officer. Tuttle police arrested 42-year old Susanna Dawn Shelton-Parker last weekend after an officer responded to a report of a reckless driver who had parked her pickup at the Sonic Drive In. A probable cause affidavit indicates the officer pulled her over as she left the drive in and that while he was talking to her she appeared to be intoxicated. Shelton-Parker became combative and began slapping the officer when he asked her to get out of the truck. The officer said he had to tase her to get her to comply. Shelton-Parker was eventually arrested and taken to the Grady County Jail. She has been charged with a felony for assault and battery on a police officer, and misdemeanors for threatening an officer and municipal DUI. She remains in jail on a $15,000 bond.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $84.40.

London-based Brent crude is $87.55.

Natural gas is $2.96 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,952 and silver is $22.85.

 

Obituary

Mark Johnson

A private service for Mark Johnson, 72, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. He worked at Land of Lakes and was a preacher at the Called Out Full Gospel Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, Aug. 9th

 

Chix Voters OK Sales Tax to Fund Water Treatment Plant

Chickasha voters gave a landslide approval to sales tax that will fund the construction of a new water treatment plant for the city. The proposal for a 1 1/4 cent sales tax received nearly 94 percent of the total votes in a low turnout yesterday. The final tally was 1,206 to 81. That's an unofficial count until it is certified by the election board on Friday. The nearly 1,300 votes cast is only about 16 percent of the number of registered voters in the city. The sales tax will go into effect January 1st. The city’s sales tax rate will only increase by one-half of one cent as a current 3/4ths of a penny sales tax will expire December 31st.  Mayor Chris Mosley says much of the sales tax revenue will pay for about a $70 million, 30-year loan from the Oklahoma Water Resources Board to build the plant.

 

                             

 

 

Officials estimate that the sales tax could bring in about $4.5 million a year with $3 million of that going to loan payments. Mosley talks about what the remaining $1.5 million per year could be used for.

 

                         

 

 

Other capital improvements could include the purchase of fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars. Mosley said it will be a long process to build the new plant. Engineering is just starting and that will take a year. It will take at least another two years to build the plant which means it could be 2027 at the earliest that the plant will begin operations.

 

Carnegie Voters OK PSO Franchise Extension                              

The town of Carnegie also had a special election yesterday. Voters gave near unanimous approval for Public Service Company of Oklahoma to continue its franchise agreement for another 25 years. The measure received 60 of the 61 votes cast.

 

State Highway 19 Upgrades Approved

The State Transportation Commission awarded a contract this week to widen State Highway 19 between Chickasha and Alex. The panel awarded a more than $50 million contract to Silver Star Construction Company. It will start about five miles southeast of the Highway 19 and 81 junction then go east nearly 8 ½ miles. Work is expected to start later this year. Once completed State Highway 19 will be a super two-lane roadway with eight-foot wide shoulders from Chickasha eastward to the Washita River Bridge west of Lindsay.

 

Suspect in Custody After High-Speed Chase in Verden Area

Verden police arrest a man following a pursuit that reached 100 miles per hour through parts of rural Grady and Caddo counties. 42-year old Mikel Charles Frazier of Ponca City was taken into custody after last Saturday’s chase. A probable cause affidavit indicates Verden police attempted to pull over a pickup speeding through town. The driver sped away and failed to stop at stop signs and at one point put children's lives in danger. The pursuit ended when the truck blew a tire. Frazier tried to make a run for it but he was quickly detained. Frazier has been charged with felonies which include endangering others while eluding and possession of a stolen vehicle. He remains in the Grady County in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.92 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.17.

Natural gas is $2.78 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,959 and silver is $22.79.

 

Obituary

Janet Stewart

Funeral service for Janet Stewart, 74, of Duncan will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 11th at the First Baptist Church of Duncan. She was a teacher and a homemaker. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, August 8^th

 

Injured Chix Police Officer has Badge Retired

In a ceremony that many believed was long overdue retired Chickasha Police Sgt. Matthew Schoolfield had his badge retired last night. The ceremony was during last night's Chickasha City Council meeting. Police Chief G.G. Music said Schoolfield was part of the police department's Special Response Team (SRT) that attempted to issue a search warrant on Sept. 17th, 2017. Music said a gun battle ensued with more than 200 rounds being fired and Schoolfield suffered several gunshot wounds. Following a long recovery Schoolfield returned to work and honorably retired in March of 2020. In last night's meeting Music said-

 

              

 

 

Several members of that SRT team were and others who worked with Schoolfield were on hand for the presentation. A proclamation issued by Mayor Chris Mosley noted Schoofield's more than 12 years of service, commitment, dedication, heroism, and suffering great physical loss. Schoolfield’s badge No. 319 will never be issued again.

 

Chix Voters to Decide Sales Tax Issue

Chickasha voters go to the polls today to decide on a sales tax proposal that would pay to build a new water treatment plant. The proposal calls for a permanent 1 1/4 cent  sales tax which officials say would not only pay for the $74 million plant, it would also provide funding for various capital improvement projects including street and water line repairs and needed equipment for police and fire. If the sales tax is approved, it would result in just a 1/2 of a penny net increase in the sales tax as a current 3/4 of a penny tax expires at the end of the year. If the sales tax does not pass the city's water users will see their rates rise 82 percent in order to pay for the project. Polls are open until 7 o’clock tonight.

 

Carnegie Has Special Election

There is also a special election in Carnegie today, where voters will decide on a 25-year extension for Public Service Company's franchise agreement.

 

Chix City Council Tidbits

The city council approved a payment of nearly $288,000 to a contractor for the recent repairs made to the storm drain and intersection at 14th and Missouri damaged during heavy rains in June. The panel also approved a request by Brannan Bordwine to rezone several acres on West Country Club Road from agricultural to residential use. The panel also approved a number of oil and gas leases to Petroven. The leases total about 40 acres and range in size from less than one-half acre to 31 acres. The panel also approved a request to waive the competitive bidding process and purchase 25 new AR-15 platform police rifles at a cost of nearly $79,000 from Ares State Armory. The panel also authorized the purchase of 10 new Glock 9mm with night sights for the police department totaling just under $5,000 from H and H Shooting Sports.

 

Chix School Teachers Challenged to Find 'Amazing' Things

Chickasha school teachers have been challenged to find something amazing to talk about every day during the upcoming school this year. During the opening convocation for the district’s teachers yesterday, officials asked them to find 175 amazing things about the district. That’s one for every day of the school year. Guest speaker was Dr. April Grace, former Shawnee school superintendent who was the state school superintendent of the year in 2021. Gab Shepard with the Chickasha Public School Foundation reminded teachers that the classroom closet is open and that most of the school supplies students need can be picked up. She also said that the foundation issued more than $40,000 in teacher grants last year and that applications for this year's grants will open this week. In the spirit competition among each school site Lincoln School was declared the winner and will get to be the home for the large ‘Cluck’ Norris Fightin' Chick mascot. Chickasha school students return to class on Thursday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.94 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.34.

Natural gas is $2.72 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,969 and silver is $23.22

 

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Monday, Aug. 7th

 

Chix Police Officer to Receive Retirement Badge

Years After Being Injured in Shootout 

A Chickasha police officer severely injured in a shootout will finally get his retirement badge. Sgt. Matthew Schoolfield was among several law enforcement personnel injured while trying to execute a search warrant at a home in September of 2017. Schoolfield was shot six times. Chickasha Police Chief G.G. Music recently discovered that Schoolfield never received his retirement badge - but that will change tonight as Schoolfield is expected to receive the badge during tonight's Chickasha City Council meeting.

Storm Drain, Street Repair Project Payment to be Considered

The council is expected to approved the payment of the emergency storm drain and road repairs made to the intersection of 14th and Missouri which were completed this past week. Mayfield Construction, now doing business as Bear Creek Construction, bid just under $290,000 for the project.

Resident Wants Agriculture Property Re-zoned

Also on the agenda is a public hearing to consider a request from Brannan Bordwine to re-zone several acres west of 25th and Country Club Road from agriculture to residential use. The Planning Commission has recommended that the re-zoning be approved.

Fire Department Seeks New Truck

The group will consider purchasing a new squad truck for the fire department. Fire Chief Tony Samaniego is asking to buy a Dodge Ram 2500 from Emergency Vehicle Sales and Service of Oklahoma. The purchase price of just under $83,000 is expected to be reimbursed by the Grady County 522 EMS District.

Oil and Gas Leases to be Considered

The council will also consider approving a number of oil and gas leases with Petroven totaling nearly 40 acres in the city limits.

Hallowe'en Events up for Discussion

The panel will also consider requests from the chamber of commerce to hold a walking Hallowe'en costume parade downtown on Friday, Oct. 13^th and the annual Neewollah Festival downtown on Saturday, Oct. 28th. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

 

Back-to-School Time;  Info for Chix Public Schools

Students will be returning to area classrooms this week  including those in Chickasha Public Schools. Teachers return today with their opening convocation at 9 o'clock this morning at the high school activity center. Classes begin Thursday.

High School

High school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can pick up their class schedules this morning between 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. or this afternoon from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Freshman preview is tomorrow at 5:30 p.m. at the high school activity center auditorium.

Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center

Meet-the-teacher night at Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center will be tomorrow afternoon and evening. Kindergarten is from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and first grade is from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Lincoln School

Lincoln School  meet-the-teacher is tomorrow evening 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Grand Elementary

Grand Elementary meet-the-teacher is Wednesday, Aug. 9th 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

School Times Changing

There are new start times at each school this year so students and parents are urged to get those new times before Thursday.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.82 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.24.

Natural gas is $2.58 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,969 and silver is $23.46.

 

Obituary

Regina Mitchell

Funeral service for Regina Mitchell, 70, of Ninnekah was held at 10:30 this morning (Monday, August 7^th) at Ferguson Funeral Home. She was a home-maker and bookkeeper for her husband Harry's diesel truck repair service.

Saturday, Aug. 5th

 

Regional Oil and Gas Well Update

We have some updates on oil and gas well production reports to share today. Four Garvin County wells on a single pad are jointly bringing in more than 3,600 barrels of oil and more than 10,000 metric cubic feet (Mcf) of natural gas per day. They are the Torero wells drilled by CPRP Services of Oklahoma City and are in the Woodford Formation of the South Central Oklahoma Oil Province (SCOOP). They are in Section 30 of Township 3 North and Range 3 West a few miles south of Lindsay near the town of Purdy. They are drilled to a true vertical depth of more than 11,000 feet with total drilling at more than 23,000 feet.

Twin Wells Producing East of Chix

Camino Natural Resources has a couple of wells on a single pad in Grady County jointly producing nearly 900 barrels of oil and more than 4,000 Mcf of natural gas per day. They are the Shockey and the Golden Driller wells in section 36 of Township 7 North and Range 7 West about a mile east of Chickasha. They are in the Springer and Woodford formations in the SCOOP and were drilled to a true vertical depth of about 14,000 feet with total drilling at more than 25,000 feet.

 

American Indian Exposition Wraps up This Weekend

The American Indian Exposition in Anadarko wraps up today. Among the activities are a 5K run this morning, a softball tournament which runs through tomorrow, as well as primitive and traditional bow shooting competition. There is a parade through downtown at 10 o'clock this morning. Indian horse relay racing runs through tomorrow with championships Sunday afternoon. Tonight at the Caddo County fairgrounds it’s the men's dancing competition including the national fancy dance special. Head singer is John David Ballard.

 

City of Newcastle Building New Sports Complex

Construction is underway on a new sports complex for the City of Newcastle. The complex is being built near State Highways 76 and 130 which is just west of the city near Jack's Corner. Architect drawings show seven baseball and softball fields. They plan to include adding turf to some of the natural grass fields as well as walking trails, picnic areas, and 500 parking spaces. Our partners at KWTV New 9 say Newcastle received a $1.2 million grant last year to help pay for the project.

 

Church Hosts Back-to-School Bash for Chickasha Students

This is the last weekend of summer vacation for students in a number of school districts. Among them are students in Chickasha public schools who will return to classrooms next Thursday, Aug. 10th. To help get them ready Michigan Avenue Baptist Church is hosting its annual back-to-school bash and resource fair from 9 a.m. to noon today. They'll be giving away more than 400 backpacks along with school supplies and personal care items. Free haircuts and sports physicals will be available and community service organizations will be on hand. Students must be accompanied by parents. Families are asked to park at the Canadian Valley Technology Center and the Towns End bus will shuttle families to and from the church. They will be serving lunch and snow-cones. Teachers are welcome and each will receive a free goodie bag and t-shirt and can enter a drawing to win cash prizes. Teachers can also submit a list of their classroom needs. By the way, parents of Chickasha students will not have to purchase most school supplies. The Chickasha Public School Foundation provides many of the supplies needed throughout the year in all grades but there are a few exceptions.

 

Chix PD Hosts Ice Cream with a Cop

Also today, Chickasha police will have Ice Cream with a Cop. Officers will be on hand at Chickasha's Dairy Queen and free junior ice cream cones will be served to kids 12-and-under from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

 

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Kendra Gift and Dena Craig with the Southwest Oklahoma Development Authority are on our KOOL Konversation program. Find a podcasts of the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituary

Regina Mitchell

Funeral service for Regina Mitchell, 70, of Ninnekah will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, August 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She was a home-maker as well as a bookkeeper for her husband Harry's diesel truck repair service.

 

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Friday, Aug. 4th

 

Transformer 'Tumble' Explained

A 63-thousand pound transformer fell off a flatbed trailer in downtown Chickasha created some excitement last week. The incident happened about 8:30 last Wednesday morning, July 26th. It shut down traffic on 4th street for about six hours. The Southwest Ledger reports the transformer was en route from Houston to Oklahoma City. Ledger reporters say they talked to truck driver who was northbound on 4th street when he saw an SUV driving through the intersection and he hit the brakes on the big rig. When he did, the weight of transformer shifted and it broke five chains that were supposed to keep the transformer on the trailer. There were no injuries. Two cranes from an Oklahoma City firm were called in to lift the 31 1/2 ton transformer back on to trailer. A hazardous materials crew from an environmental clean-up company out of Wayne brought bags of safety solvent to soak up non-toxic mineral oil which spilled out of the unit. No street damage was reported but a curb had a large chunk taken out of it. The unidentified driver told The Ledger he was ticketed for having an unsecured load. The fine is $174.

 

'Reservation Dogs' Actor Back Home in Caddo County 

There was a big turnout in Anadarko last night for the re-opening of McKee's Indian Store. The Caddo Nation recently purchased the store in an attempt to begin a resurgence of business to downtown Anadarko. Many of those attending turned out to see teenage actor Lane Factor, who plays the role of Cheese on the hit FX series Reservation Dogs. Factor, who just recently turned 18, is a member of the Caddo Nation and was chosen as this year's Celebrity Indian of the Year for the American Indian Expo. He talks about his early acting success and hopes it’s something he can keep doing:

 

              

 

 

Reservation Dogs is in its third and final season. Factor says his immediate future is unclear because of the current actor's strike.

 

Monster Trucks to Feature Teen Driver 

Monster trucks return to the Grady County Fairgrounds this weekend. And a 14-year old girl will be driving one of them. Faith Phreed is among the youngest monster truck drivers in the world. Phreed drives the truck known as Animal House. She's following in the footsteps of her father Shane who has been driving monster trucks for years. He's driving Robo Machine, War Wizard, and Monster Mutt. There will be three shows over the next couple of days. The first is 8 p.m. tonight and there are two shows tomorrow. The first will be at 3 p.m. and the second at 8 p.m. Tickets will be available at the gate.

 

Chix Public Pool Closing Soon 

The swimming season will be ending soon at the Chickasha municipal swimming pool at Shannon Spring Park. Lewis Knisley with the YMCA which manages the pool says the pool will have its regular hours through next Wednesday, Aug. 9th which will be the final day for open swimming. The pool will be open for limited hours on Saturday, Aug. 12th and Aug. 19^th from 10-6 for limited pool parties. Contact the YMCA for information.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.55 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.14.

Natural gas is $2.57 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,968 and silver is $23.59.

 

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Thursday, Aug. 3rd

 

City of Chix Officials Update Infrastructure Work

A water line break discovered in the north part of Chickasha early Wednesday has been repaired. City crews spent most of the day repairing the break at 10^th and Illinois. That's north of the Chickasha Public Schools administration building across from Line Creek. The break caused several areas to have no or low-water pressure most of the day. Repairs were completed by 5:00 p.m.

North Side Water Line Flushed Overnight

City officials also indicated that a fire hydrant would be opened overnight near 11th and Frisco to remove air from the line. Water pressure could be low in that area this morning but is expected to return to normal later today. 

14th and Missouri Intersection to Re-open Tomorrow

City officials also indicate that the intersection of 14th and Missouri will be re-opening tomorrow. The intersection has been closed since mid-June after part of the intersection collapsed following heavy rains. Nearly $300,000 in repairs were completed last week and officials are just waiting for the concrete to cure. The intersection will re-open at 7:00 a.m. Friday.

 

Two Candidates File for Minco Mayor Post;

Town's Former Police Chief Files to Serve Again

Two candidates have filed to run for Mayor for the town of Minco. Dena Sanford and Susan Hollandsworth both submitted formal documents to run for the post in the three-day filing period which ended yesterday. There is now a two-day withdrawal and protest period for candidates to withdraw their names, or for anyone wanting to challenge their eligibility and qualifications. One candidate filed for the vacant police chief position. Former Minco Police Chief Neal Locke filed for the post. The special election is scheduled Sept. 12th.

 

Early Voting Begins for Special Elections in Chix, Carnegie

Early voting is underway in some areas that are having special elections next week. That includes voters who live in the Chickasha city limits who will decide if a 1 1/4 cent sales tax should be approved to pay for the construction of a new water treatment plant. If approved there would be a net increase in the sales tax of one half of one percent. A current sales tax will expire December 31^st and the new tax would take effect January 1, 2024. There is also early voting for residents living in the town of Carnegie to cast ballots regarding the extension of the PSO easement agreement. Voters can cast ballots early at the county election board offices where they are registered. Early voting is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow. The actual election is next Tuesday, Aug. 8th.

 

American Indian Expo Continues

Today is Day Two of the American Indian Exposition in Anadarko. Among the highlights is a grand opening reception at the re-opened McKee Indian Store downtown. The Caddo Nation recently acquired the store which has historically served as a supplier of arts and craft items for Indigenous artists and traditional Indigenous clothing. Caddo Nation Chairman Bobby Gonzalez says Native Americans make up more than 70 percent of the population in Anadarko but there are very few businesses owned and operated by Indigenous people or tribes. He hopes to change that by working to revitalize Anadarko's Main Street area. The store also includes the Susan Peters Gallery. Peters is known for discovering the original Kiowa Six artists. Wikipedia indicates that she was honored by the National Hall of Fame for Famous American Indians in 1954 and is enshrined in the Oklahoma Women's Hall of Fame. She passed away in 1965 at the age of 91. Among those expected to attend is actor Lane Factor who is known for his role as Cheese in the FX hit show Reservation Dogs. The reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. tonight.

 

Salvation Army Holds Sign-ups for Shoes, Socks, Skivvies

The Salvation Army serving Grady and Caddo counties will have sign-ups this week for families wanting to apply for the Shoes, Socks, and Skivvies giveway. In Anadarko families can register at 515 West Garrett between 2:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. this afternoon. Grady County families can sign-up Saturday, August 5^th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Chickasha Salvation Army at 2402 S. 16th. Families must Provide children’s ID’s; proof of need (such as pay stubs or SNAP letter); children's birth certificates; shot records or school records; and child's clothing sizes.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.49 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.20.

Natural gas is $2.47 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,968 and silver is $23.61.

 

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Wednesday, Aug. 2nd

 

Athena Brownfield Autopsy Report Unveiled

An autopsy conducted by the state medical examiner's office indicates that Athena Brownfield died from pneumonia and malnutrition. Athena was the four-year old Cyril girl who was first reported missing in January. Her body was found buried in the Agawam area about a week later. Athena was reported missing after her 5-year old sister was found wandering in the street by a mail carrier. Shortly after being reported missing the childrens' care takers, Alysia Adams and Ivon Adams were arrested. Ivon is charged with felonies of murder and child neglect - Alysia is charged with two counts of felony child neglect. Both have preliminary hearings set in Caddo County District Court in Anadarko on Oct. 4th.

 

Grady County Courthouse Re-opens Today

The Grady County Courthouse will be re-opening this morning. The courthouse was closed Monday after a water line that is part of building’s large air condition units ruptured and flooded a couple of offices. County Commissioner Kirk Painter said contractors were quick to respond to make repairs and finished work earlier than anticipated. He said the county has annual contract with Streets, LLC out of Oklahoma City which is a commercial plumbing and mechanical needs firm. Painter said workers were on-site within an hour of being called Monday morning. The estimated cost of repairs was not immediately available. Painter said there is some water damage in Judge Gina Lowe's courtroom on the second floor and well as in Assessor Bari Firestone's office on the first floor.

 

New USAO President Has Active First Day

USAO's new president spent her first official day on campus yesterday with the university's senior leadership team discussing the start of school which is just a few weeks away and writing thank you notes to donors. Kayla Hale takes the reins of the presidency from long-time president John Feaver who recently retired. Hale previously served as a vice president for the University of Tulsa. She has been in Chickasha several times over the last few weeks getting familiar with the community and is looking forward to get the university more involved in the area.

              

 

She also plans to open the president's home on campus to be used as another location for chamber of commerce and business leaders to hold meetings and will be inviting students and faculty to the home.

 

Filing Period Ends Today for Minco Special Election

Prospective candidates for the mayor and police chief positions in Minco have one more day to file for the upcoming special election. As of late yesterday the only candidate to file is acting-mayor Susan Hollandsworth. She was named acting mayor following the resignation of previous mayor Keith McMullen in June. Former police chief Joshua Fletcher also resigned but no candidates have yet filed for that post. Hollandsworth has served on the Minco council for about 15 years and is a life-long Minco resident. Candidates have to file their declarations of candidacy at the Grady County Election Board by 5 o'clock this afternoon. The special election is scheduled for Sept. 12th.

 

American Indian Expo Returns

After a three-year absence the American Indian Exposition returns to Anadarko today. The expo was put on hold during the pandemic. The four-day event opens with a parade through downtown Anadarko followed by activities at the Caddo County fairgrounds. This marks the 88th anniversary of the first Indian Expo which features ceremonies and cultures from the 15 Native American tribes in Oklahoma. There are a number of arts and crafts and food vendors, a 5K run, and more. The expo runs through Saturday. See the American Indian Expo 1935 Facebook page for information.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.37 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.91.

Natural gas is $2.56 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,985 and silver is $24.42.

 

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Tuesday, Aug. 1st

 

Grady County Courthouse Closed for Repairs

(Update- Repairs have been completed as of Tuesday afternoon. The courthouse will re-open at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 2nd)

The Grady County Courthouse is closed as repairs to a broken water line are underway. The break was discovered as workers arrived Monday morning. Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson said a water line from a large air conditioning unit ruptured in the attic above the top floor of the building which caused some damage in at least two offices below. Thompson said crews will have to replace about a 20-foot section of the water line and will also have to remove some asbestos discovered in the historic courthouse. While the courthouse is closed all other county offices will be open.

 

Break-in Reported at Chix Public Works Headquarters

Chickasha police are investigating a break-in that occurred at the city's Public Works Headquarters. Police Chief G.G. Music said authorities were notified of the break-in the morning of Saturday, July 22nd. Music provided no details about the incident other than to say it is still under investigation.

 

City of Chix has Record Month for Sales Tax Collections

A new report shows that the City of Chickasha had a record month for sales tax collections. The July sales tax report from the Oklahoma Tax Commission shows the city collected nearly $1.4 million in sales tax revenues. That's a more than 17 percent increase from June and a more than 24 percent increase from July of 2022. In his recent media column Jim Cowan with the city's economic development council said while inflation is a factor in the increase - consumer spending actually out-paced inflation. That $1.4 million in sales tax revenue indicates that more than $37 million was spent on taxable goods and services at Chickasha retail outlets. At the county level Grady County coffers collected more than $780,000 in sales tax revenue. That represents nearly $105 million in consumer spending county-wide during that same period.

 

Grady County 4Hers do well at State 4H Roundup

Grady County was well represented at the state 4H Roundup in Stillwater last month. 22 members attended the three-day event and several brought home some of the top awards. Sage Payne won first place in the communications contest with her Animal Science Digital Presentations and Alexandraya Brown was runner-up. Georgia Nelson won first place in the Plant and Natural Sciences Digital presentations. County 4Hers took the top two spots in the Food Showdown. The team of Kenlynn Chaney, Katie Jones, and Shane Williamson won the event and will represent Oklahoma at the National 4H Food Showdown. Alexandraya Brown, Haden Shipley, and MJ Shipley were runners-up. Caden Cowell was a winner in the talent contest with his vocal work in performing arts. Cowell, Makenzie Clodfelter, and Mesa Payne were all selected to perform prior to the honors night assembly. Four members were selected to attend the National 4H Congress in Atlanta this fall. Charramaiyne Brown, Kenlynn Chaney, Maggie Evans, and Abby Pettijohn will be taking the trip. One 4Her was elected to a state office. Shelby Kelsey will serve as the state vice president during the upcoming school year. Collectively, Grady County 4Hers received $6,000 in college scholarships.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.43.

Natural gas is $2.26 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,993 and silver is $24.65.

 

Obituary

Terry Woolridge

No service is scheduled for Terry Woolridge, 62, of Medicine Park and formerly of Minco. He was a machinist and a welder. Arrangements were with Sevier Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation or any medical research foundation.

 

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Monday, July 31st

 

BREAKING-

The Grady County Courthouse is closed through Wednesday, August 2nd due to a  water line break from an air conditioning unit that runs through the attic. All ofther Grady County offices will remain open. The courthouse is scheduled to re-open Thursday, Aug. 3rd at 8:30 a.m.

 

Admitted Drug Trafficker Sentenced 

An admitted drug trafficker who pleaded guilty to distributing drugs laced with fentanyl will spend 20 years in prison. Last week 34-year old Garrett John David Woodle of Purcell pleaded guilty to distributing fentanyl resulting in serious bodily injury. The information is posted on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page and cites an announcement by U.S. attorney Robert Troester. Woodle had been the subject of a joint investigation by the Grady County Sheriff's Office and the sheriff's office Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agent Capt. Jim Peek last September. A federal grand jury returned a four-count Super-ceding Indictment against Woodle in May. The indictment indicated that Woodle provided fentanyl to an individual who overdosed. The victim survived after getting two doses of Narcan and other medical treatment. As part of the plea agreement federal prosecutors agreed to not advocate for more than 20 years in prison.

 

Former USAO Regent Passes Away

Longtime USAO regent David McLaughlin has died. The successful Oklahoma businessman spent ten years on the panel. Outgoing USAO President John Feaver writes that McLaughlin's service is unmatched and that was a great human being who went to extraordinary efforts to improve the lives of everyone he came in contact with. His family contributed to a number of USAO projects including the construction of the classroom at the university’s habitat area which is dedicated to his wife Jean. Other projects include upgrades to the university's athletic facilities (the soccer field is named in his family’s honor) and providing student scholarships.

 

Chix Chamber to Celebrate Centennial 

Officials with the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the organization's 100th birthday tomorrow. The chamber was created August 1st, 1923 although various groups doing similar work began prior to the turn of the 20th century. A come-and-go birthday open house will be held at the chamber from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. tomorrow which will include inter-active exhibits featuring the chamber's journey. It will also be a day filled with networking and other opportunities for chamber members which now total about 375. In addition to celebrating the chamber's achievements the group looks forward to an even brighter future.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $80.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.99.

Natural gas is $2.64 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,995 and silver is $24.43.

 

Obituaries

Elbert Bottoms

A graveside service for Elbert Bottoms, 91, of Chickasha was held at 10:00 a.m. today (Monday, July 31^st) at Laverty Cemetery. He served in the National Guard, was an electrician, and worked for Maremont. Arrangements were with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Karliene Spradlin

A graveside service for Karliene Spradlin, 89, of Ardmore and formerly of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 1st at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

Sidney Henderson

A graveside service for Sidney Henderson, 66, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 4th at Fairlawn Cemetery. Arrangements are with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

Thursday, July 20th

 

Caddo County Teen Pleads Guilty to Shooting Father

A Cyril teenager who pleaded guilty to shooting his father may be able to avoid serving any time behind bars. 18-year old Lance Moore was arrested in October of last year following a confrontation with his father. At the time he was charged as a youthful offender. Moore initially pleaded not guilty to a felony charge of shooting with intent to kill this past April and the case was set to go to trial in September. Moore changed his plea to guilty earlier this month. On-line court records indicate that if he successfully completes a juvenile offender program the charge will be dismissed - otherwise he could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. He's to be back in court next month to give a progress report.

 

Chix City Council OK's Cost Increase for Repair Project

The Chickasha City Council this week approved a change order for the street and storm drain repairs underway at the intersection of 14th Street and Missouri Avenue. The panel approved an additional $9,200 for the project. Authorities said they were going to have to remove debris which was blocking water from flowing through the drain was damaged during heavy rains this spring. Officials say somehow a utility pole was one of the items washed into the drain. Authorities believe it came from an area a couple of blocks away in a previous storm.

Residential Day Care Approved

The council also approved a use-on-review request to operate a home daycare in a residential area. Following a brief public hearing which included comments from applicant Kelsea Dobbins, the panel approved the request for the daycare in the 900 block of South 13th Street.
Panel Postpones Action on Grant Request for Downtown Eatery

The panel took no action on awarding a central business district building grant to a downtown restaurant. Officials with Roberto's Tex-Mex Cantina had applied for a $12,500 grant to assist with recent electrical and plumbing upgrades. Chickasha Economic Development Director Jim Cowan said the reason no action was taken was because the issue was worded incorrectly on the agenda. He said the restaurant has checked all the boxes required to be eligible for the grant and expects the council to approved it at a later date.

 

FEMA OKs Disaster Assistance for Some OK Counties

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved Gov. Kevin Stitt's request to provide federal disaster aid to help with recovery efforts in several counties following spring tornadoes and thunderstorms. Stephens and Comanche counties are among the 19 counties approved for FEMA funds to clean up and recover from storms which battered the state between June 15th and 18th. The assistance is for municipalities, counties, electric co-ops  and others and will provide re-imbursement for debris removal, infrastructure and utility repairs, and other costs related to recovering from those storms.

 

Elgin Mayor Announces Run for State Senate

The Mayor of Elgin announces he'll be a candidate for a vacant seat in the state senate. J.J. Francais, who is also the vice president of Hilliary Communications, says he's tossing his hat into the ring to fill the District 32 seat relinquished by former State Senator John Montgomery. Montgomery recently stepped down after being named president of the Lawton-Ft. Sill Chamber of Commerce. The Lawton Constitution cites a press release from Francais that he is a conservative Republican and his platform includes fighting crime and battling inflation, and that government should empower its citizens rather than restrict their liberties. A special election will be held Oct. 10th.

 

Grady County 4H Volunteer Honored at State Conference

A Grady County 4H leader is recognized for her work. Angie Young leads the 4H program in Verden and was named the County 4H Volunteer of the Year. She was honored for her efforts at the state 4H Parent and Volunteer Board conference held in Stillwater recently.  Grady County 4H educator Liz Taylor served as a presenter at the event. Young said the conference was a great experience and enjoyed the 'hands-on' workshops including one which focused on wildlife activities. She plans to incorporate the program into her Verden 4H group and in after-school and classrooms for school enrichment programs.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.35 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.46.

Natural gas is $2.60 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,024 and silver is $25.44.

 

Obituary

Donna McBride

Arrangements for Donna McBride, 63, of El Reno are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, July 19th

 

Downtown Chix Sees Increase in Visitors

The number of people visiting downtown Chickasha over the first six months of this increased nearly 40 percent compared to 2022. Chickasha Economic Development Council director Jim Cowan points to foot traffic analytics from Placer Labs. It shows there were more than 560,000 visits to the downtown area from January through June of this year.  That's a 39 percent increase over the same period last year. The study indicates that the busiest month during that period was in March when more than 100,000 visits were recorded. Cowan says a lot of the increase is due to the Leg Lamp and new businesses which have opened over the last year and a half. Cowan said they expect the number to grow even more as new entertainment venues like ax throwing and an escape room will be opening over the next few months. The area surveyed is from 1st to 6th Street on both sides of Chickasha and Choctaw Avenues and part of Kansas Avenue. It does not include visitors going to the Grady County courthouse.

 

New Lincoln Principal Excited About Role

The new principal at Chickasha's Lincoln Elementary School is looking forward to the next step in her career. Angie Morgan steps into the principal's role after five years as assistant principal. She is a career educator with more than 25-years in the classroom, first with Anadarko Public schools then with Chickasha where she taught elementary education. She has this message for parents regarding the upcoming school year:

 

              

 

 

She thanks her mentor, Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander, who just retired as Lincoln principal. She says she learned patience from Dr. A and to not overreact to situations. A new assistant principal for Lincoln is expected to be named before the start of school on Aug. 10th.

 

Barricaded Anadarko Suspect Formally Charged

The man who was arrested after barricading himself inside an Anadarko home last week has been formally charged with a felony and two misdemeanors in connection with the incident. 43-year old Jeremy Janmohammadi had his initial appearance in Caddo County District Court on Monday. He's been charged with a felony for having a firearm after former felony conviction, and misdemeanors for obstructing an officer and outraging public decency. He was relesased from jail after posting a $5,000 bond. The incident occurred last Friday, when utility workers were working in an alley behind the home. Janmohammadi came out and brandished a weapon and cursed at the workers, who called police. A probable cause affidavit indicates authorities found a BB gun inside the home. Janmohammadi was convicted of drug trafficking of drug trafficking out of Grady County 2021 where he received a five year suspended sentence.

 

Filing Dates Set for Minco Mayor, Police Chief Posts

The resignations of the mayor and the police chief in town of Minco means a special election will be held this fall to fill those positions. The filing period for candidates wanting to run for those posts will be held Monday, July 31st through Wednesday, Aug. 2nd. Candidates will be able to file their declarations of candidacy at the Grady County Election Board in Chickasha from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each of those days. Forms may be downloaded from the state election board website at www.oklahoma.gov/elections or they may be picked up at the election board office at 315 Pennsylvania next to the Grady County Emergency Management Office. The special election will be held Sept. 12th.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.75 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.63.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,019 and silver is $25.24.

 

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Tuesday, July 18th

 

Chickasha Officials Name Engineering Firm

to Design New Water Treatment Plant

The Chickasha City Council gives city manager Keith Johnson the approval to negotiate a contract with an engineering firm to design the city's new water treatment plant. City officials recommended that the Oklahoma City firm of Freese and Nicholes be used to design the $74 million plant. Officials from the city and the firm held a walk-through of the plant yesterday. Johnson said it’s possible that some of the equipment in the current plant could be used in the new facility.

 

              

 

 

Details of the contract are expected to available at a later date. City voters will go to the polls Aug. 8th to consider a sales tax proposal to fund the construction of the new water plant.

 

Hollywood Strike Impacts Local film Production

The Screen Actors Guild strike in Hollywood is impacting film work going on in Chickasha, El Reno, and other Oklahoma communities. Crews working on sets for the Twisters film have had to postpone their work. John Cowan is the set director for the work underway in Chickasha. Last night the city council approved an extension of the film time through August 4^th last night. Cowan said the streets around 17th and Minnesota will be temporarily re-opened.

 

              

 

 

Cowan said they will bring in a professional street sweeper to make sure nails would be picked up so the risk for flat tires should be minimal.

 

No Action Taken After Discussion of Purchase or Appraisal Property

After a 30-minute closed-door session, the city council took no action following a discussion regarding the purchase or appraisal of real property. The location of the property was not revealed.

 

More Drug Arrests Made in Ongoing Fentanyl Probe

Three people, including a teenager were arrested early yesterday as drug agents converged on a Chickasha home. Captain Jim Peek, a DEA agent with the Grady County Sheriff's Office, said a SWAT team of 12 to 15 officers served a search warrant on a home in the 1200 block of South Shepherd about 6:30 Monday morning. The team included state troopers and members of the District Attorney's Drug Task Force. Arrested was 42-year old Byran Latoure Blakes, also known as 'Kuda,' who is being held on complaints of trafficking and having firearms. Also arrested was Taylor Meade who had warrants for her arrest for grand larceny and assault and battery out of the Chickasaw Nation. Peek said the search warrant was issued after a confidential informant allegedly purchased 30 pills which included some laced with Fentanyl. The 16-year old was released by DHS to a relative.

 

Two Critical After ATV Crash

An ATV crash leaves two men fighting for their lives. 42-year old Garrett Dantzler of Blanchard and 40-year old Francisco Preciado of New Mexico were taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where they were admitted in critical condition. The accident happened about 6 o'clock Monday morning on Pendergraft Road and CR 1210 just west of Newcastle. The highway patrol reports the ATV was going too fast to turn on to the roadway causing the ATV to tip over and hit a railroad tie then landed upside down. Neither man was wearing a seatbelt or helmet. It wasn't immediately clear who was driving the ATV.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $74.15 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.50.

Natural gas is $2.51 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,966 and silver is $25.15.

 

Obituaries 

Linda Gladden

Obituaries today include Linda Gladden, 77, of Chickasha. She worked at Gabriel and Maremont and as a Certified Nurse Assistant. No service will be held. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, July 17th

 

Cost Increases for Intersection Repair

The work to make emergency repairs to the intersection at 14th and Missouri is becoming a little more costly. Tonight, the city council will consider a change order with Mayfield Contracting to add more than $9,000 to the project in order to clean out the storm drain. Officials say items like power poles and other materials are completely blocking the drain and preventing water from flowing.

City Manager to Negotiate With Firm for Water Plant Project Design

The council is also to consider giving city manager Keith Johnson the authority to negotiate with engineering firm Freese and Nicholes out of Oklahoma City. The negotiations will center around a statement of qualifications and a request for a feasibility study on the proposed water treatment plant improvements project.

Daycare Operation to be Considered

The panel will also hold a public hearing to consider a use-on-review for applicant Kelsea Dobbins to operate a home daycare in the 900 block of South 13th. The planning commission is recommending the approval of the proposal.

Downtown Resturant Seeks Grant for Upgrades

Also to be discussed is a proposed grant to help a downtown restaurant with improvements. The panel will consider awarding a grant to Roberto's Tex-Mex and Cantina up to $12,500 to assist with electrical and plumbing upgrades. Owners are planning on spending about $275,000 for improvements to the restaurant. The Economic Development Council is recommending the grant be approved. The group will also go behind closed doors to discuss the purchase or appraisal of real property. However, a description of the property was not listed on the agenda.

 

Historical Panel to Consider Sign Permits

The city's historic preservation committee meets this afternoon to consider several sign permits in downtown Chickasha. One is for Wild Ox Axe Throwing at 3rd and Chickasha Avenue; one for Oklahoma Human Services at 323 Chickasha Avenue; and one for Jay's Jewelry at 4th and Chickasha Avenue. 

 

Minco School Year to Begin August 17th

Classrooms will be opening in less than a month for many public schools. Minco students will return on Thursday, Aug. 17th. Superintendent Kevin Sims says there will be 15 new employees in the district this year. Sims also says an individual bequeathed a lot of money to the district. He tells how they'll use some of those funds - 

 

              

 

 

Sims said there have been a lot of students who transferred into the district for the upcoming school year. Average daily membership is right 600 students.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.42 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is  $78.50.

Natural gas is $2.54 per million BTUs.

Gold is $1,962 and silver is $25.09.