Saturday, Feb. 24th

 

Proposed Bill Would Allow Utility Companies

to Avoid Competitive Bidding for Some Projects

For more than a year, some state lawmakers have been holding debate about a plan that would allow utilities to avoid the competitive bidding process for major transmission line projects. The State House of Representatives Utility Committee has held closed-door negotiations with parties on both sides of the issue. The measure is called the Right of First Refusal. Those against the plan say if the bill is approved it would result in higher costs for consumers. The website OK Energy Today cites State Rep. Trey Caldwell (R-Lawton) as saying the proposal is not a Right of First Refusal. He says a proposed amendment would protect rate-payers by removing control of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and place it in the hands of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. State Rep. Mickey Dollens (D-Oklahoma City) said that removing the competitive bidding process cuts out the competition. Officials with the Oklahoma Chapter of Americans for Prosperity said similar bills across the country have led to skyrocketing utility rates and opposes the measure.

 

Caddo County Driver Faces Manslaughter Charge

A Caddo County man is charged in connection with a deadly hit-and-run accident. Comanche County authorities have charged 46-year old Randy Allen Herring of Apache with manslaughter and other charges. The Lawton Constitution reports Herring was driving a pickup involved in a crash that claimed the life of 38-year old Gilbert Leon Crow-Mihecoby who died after his motorcycle crashed into the back of a pickup that Herring was driving. The fatal crash occurred near Fletcher last September. Herring allegedly left the area after the crash. Herring is also facing charges of  leaving the scene of a fatality accident and unauthorized use of a vehicle.

 

Local Diners Part of Oklahoma Onion Burger Trail

A couple of Grady County eateries are among a number of restaurants across the state recognized by the Oklahoma Beef Council. J and W Grill in Chickasha and Sid's Diner locations in Minco and El Reno are among nearly two dozen locations selected to be part of what’s being called the Oklahoma Onion Burger Trail. The beef council is encouraging individuals to visit the restaurants in order to earn points to get an 'I Conquered the Oklahoma Onion Burger Trail' t-shirt, an Oklahoma Burger Trail backpack, or a 'Beef. It's What's for Dinner' baseball cap. All entries will go into a drawing where one person will receive a $500 gift certificate for beef. The promotion will run March 1st through August 30th. You can sign up for a digital pass on-line or on your mobile device at www.oklabeef.org/burgertrail or you can download a paper pass to keep track of your visits.

 

Talk Show Topic

On the KOOL Konversation, Mel Phllips with the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will discuss the Artifact Identification Day that the group will be having at the Chickasha library next Saturday. There is a podcast of the program under the Community Tab on this website.

 

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Friday, Feb. 23rd

 

Two Hospitalized After Stabbing at Chickasha Home

A fight among several individuals at a Chickasha home last weekend resulted in two people being hospitalized with stab wounds and another with minor injuries. Two of the victims were said to be in stable condition. In a short statement released by the Chickasha Police Department, authorities say the attack occurred at a home in the 1100 block of South 20th in the early morning hours of Saturday, Feb. 17th. Authorities did not release the names of anyone involved the fight. No one was arrested and the statement says no charges have been filed.

 

Parts of Anadarko to be Without Power Today

Some areas in Anadarko will be without power today as city crews will be installing a utility pole. Authorities say electricity will be out between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. this afternoon and will impact the east 100 blocks of Louisiana Ave. and Texas Ave; and the west 100 through 500 blocks of Louisiana Avenue and Texas Avenue. The outage will impact the even numbered addresses on Louisiana and the odd-numbered addresses on Texas.

 

Senators Clear Way for Eliminating State Grocery Sales Tax

It looks like Oklahomans will finally get some relief when it comes to their family food budgets. The Oklahoma State Senate yesterday overwhelmingly approved a bill to eliminate the 4 1/2 percent state sales tax rate on groceries. The Oklahoma House of Representatives already approved the measure and Gov. Kevin Stitt is expected to sign the bill. Oklahoma is one of 13 states that still have state sales taxes on groceries. Officials say the average family would save about $400 per year. The sales tax won't be eliminated right away as it will remain in effect until the end of July. While the state sales tax will be eliminated, local and county sales taxes will still be charged as those funds pay for infrastructure improvements.

 

Contractors Sought for Chix Schools Paving Work

Chickasha Public Schools are now accepting bids for paving projects at the middle school and Grand elementary school. Some of the requirements will be site clearing, earth moving, asphalt and cement paving, concrete sidewalks, curbs, and gutters, pavement marking, traffic and handicapped parking signs, and sodding. Detailed descriptions are posted on the school district's website. A mandatory pre-bid conference will be held at 10:00 a.m. next Tuesday, Feb. 27th and then sealed bids need to be mailed to or hand-delivered to the district by 2:00 p.m. Thursday,  March 14th with the bids to be opened at that time.

 

State Lawmaker Clarifies Intentions of Poultry Bill

A state lawmaker who wants to protect Oklahoma farmers and ranchers from sue-and-settle tactics says some false information is being spread about his proposal. Rep. David Hardin of Stillwell has filed HB 4118 and said Oklahoma producers are worried about the potential threat of wealthy, out-of-state activists suing them to promote a liberal environmental agenda. Hardin said his proposal will only shield the state's protein farmers, especially poultry producers who comply with the state's nutrient program. Hardin says there are strict laws in place for poultry producers who need to follow a state approved nutrient management plan that provides guidelines for the responsible handling of poultry waste. He said the sue-and-settle tactics are commonly used nationwide to impose regulations, and the lawyers behind them are known for targeting those who lack the means to defend themselves, like small family farmers.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.61 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.67.

Natural gas is $1.73 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,032 and silver is $22.96.

 

Obituaries

Pamela Doherty

A memorial service for Pamela Doherty, 75, of Yukon and formerly of Dibble will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 24th at Southgate Baptist Church in Moore.

Jeffrey 'Wade' Morris

A memorial service for Wade Morris, 64, of Anadarko will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, Feb. 26th at the Gospel Lighthouse Church in Anadarko. He worked at a number of area restaurants and often sang at Trader's Steakhouse. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home of Chickasha.

 

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Thursday, Feb. 22nd

 

Investigators Re-open Five-Year Old Cold Case

It's been more than five years since the body of Roy Lee Fulton was found in his Ninnekah home. HIs body was discovered by his daughter in November of 2018. Media reports say she hadn't heard from Fulton in a couple of days and when she went to his house to check on him she saw him lying on the floor. She initially thought he had a heart attack but then discovered he had been shot to death. The Grady County Sheriff's Office has re-opened the case and is asking anyone who may have information to call Grady County Crimestoppers at 405-224-TIPS or the Grady County Sheriff's Office at 405 224-0984.

 

Accused Child Killers Have Hearings Postponed

Court hearings scheduled this week for the two defendants charged with murder in connection with death of Athena Brownfield were postponed. Alysia Adams and Ivon Adams are both accused of causing Brownfield’s death in January of 2022. They were supposed to be arraigned on the upgraded murder charges in Caddo County District Court yesterday but the hearings were re-scheduled due to a conflict. Alysia Adams is to return to court April 17th while Ivon Adams is to return April 26th.

 

Three Women Injured in Confrontation; One is Arrested

Three women were taken to a hospital and one of them was arrested following a violent confrontation in rural Caddo County. One woman suffered a gunshot wound and two others were stabbed. KSWO-TV reports deputies were dispatched to a home somewhere on CR 1360 Saturday.  It's alleged one of the women stabbed the other two with an unknown object - and then the attacker was shot. One of the stabbing victims suffered a seven-inch gash. Deputies arrested 27-year old Kylie Byfield of Chickasha on complaints of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. She was treated for a gunshot wound to her elbow. The Caddo County District Attorney's office charged Byfield with two felonies, both of which carry maximum penalties of 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. She is out of jail after posting bond and her next court appearance is set for April 22nd.

 

2024 Chickasha Community Theater Season Opens

The Chickasha Community Theatre (CCT) opens its 2024 season this weekend with a stage performance of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." The play is based on the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey which was a made into the 1975 Oscar Award winning-movie that earned actor Jack Nicholson a Best-Actor award. Marcus Bilyeu portrays Nicholson's character R.P. McMurphy-

 

              

 

 

Show times are 7:30 tonight, tomorrow night, and Saturday night with a Sunday matinee performance at 2:00 p.m. The show is part of CCT’s After Dark series and is for mature audiences.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.91 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.03.

Natural gas is $1.77 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,036 and silver is $23.31.

 

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Wednesday, Feb. 21st

 

Suspect Arrested for BB Gun Threat 

Chickasha police arrest a man for allegedly threatening people at a local business with an airsoft, or BB gun. It happened last Thursday when it's reported that 26-year old Kaylan Johnson fired some shots from the weapon that looked like a real one.  KSWO-TV reports that Johnson and threatened to kill individuals in the business. Police tracked down Johnson at a home where they recovered the gun. Johnson has been charged with a felony for assault and battery with a dangerous weapon. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $40,000 bond.

 

Crash Causes Car to Flip

A bizarre crash occurred in a residential area of Chickasha yesterday where a vehicle flipped upside down. It happened at the intersection of 8th and Iowa Ave. just before 10 a.m. Tuesday. Chickasha police say a pickup that was northbound on 8th Street failed to yield from the stop sign and broadsided a small westbound SUV. The collision caused the SUV to spin, hit a curb, and flip upside down. An ambulance was called to the scene but the SUV driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene. The accident closed the intersection for about an hour.

 

Grady County Trial Docket Revised

Grady County residents who have been called for jury duty for the upcoming two-week trial docket will not have to report next week. District Judge Kory Kirkland said that all the cases that were scheduled to be heard for Feb. 26th through March 1st have been resolved. However, as it stands right now, there are cases for the second week of the docket, March 4th through 8th, so prospective jurors will have to report on Monday, March 4th.

 

Program to Estimate Age of Historic Artifacts

Scheduled for Chickasha Public Library

Individuals who have collections of what they believe to be historic artifacts can get a good idea of how old they are in a program next month. Representatives from the Oklahoma Anthropological Society (OAS) will be in Chickasha to look at the items. Mel Phillips with OAS says there are numerous sites throughout Grady County alone where artifacts have been found-

 

            

 

 

Phillips and other OAS representatives will hold a free program at the Chickasha Public Library Saturday, March 2nd from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Individuals can bring up to 20 artifacts and officials say they will identify them to the best of their ability and provide insights about their histories. However, they will not place a value on the items.

 

USAO Reports Enrollment Increase

There has been a big influx of students at USAO for the spring trimester that started last month. Officials report a double-digit increase in enrollment over last year. Officials say the number is up nearly 11 percent with the freshman class having a more than 28 percent increase. Officials say the university retained 87 percent of freshmen students who enrolled last fall. Representatives say the Student Success Center is a big reason for the increase. Director Kelli Monroe says it offers students a support system which underscores USAO's commitment to guiding students through their academic journey. Services include academic advising, career exploration, tutoring and mentoring which are all at no cost to students.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.18 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.34.

Natural gas is $1.58 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,041 and silver is $23.17.

 

Obituary

Wanda Ellis

A memorial service for Wanda Ellis, 93, of Norge will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, February 24^th at Trinity Baptist Church in Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pioneer Cemetery Fund.

 

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Tuesday, Feb. 20th

 

Chix Council OKs Next Phase of Water Treatment Plan Project

The next phase of development for Chickasha's new water treatment plant received approval from the city council last night. The green light was given for what is called the Master Service Task Agreement No. 2. It deals with the design and engineering of the plant with the firm of Freese and Nichols. Construction on the plant is not expected to begin for at least a year and it will take at least two years to build. The agreement calls for Freese and Nichols to perform general administrative duties and provide monthly progress reports. The firm will have a kick-off meeting to review to scope, schedule, and budget for the estimated $70 million project and determine if there are any special conditions which may affect the project.

Panel OKs grant for new downtown business

The city council approved a $40,000 Central Business District Building Grant for a firm that recently purchased a downtown building. The grant was awarded to Alora Real Estate. Alora CEO Brock Hoffman is a Chickasha native who told the council he is investing in the community with his purchase of the building at 411 Chickasha Avenue. He said the first floor will be for retail shops and the second floor would be use for office space. Hoffman also said he’s also flipping houses in the community.

Lack of day care centers concerns council rep

The lack of day care centers in the city was brought up by City Councilwoman Georgeianne Hebblethwaite last night. She said that the three day-care centers currently in Chickasha have waiting lists and a new center which will be opening later this year is expected be at capacity. Hebblethwaite asked Economic Development Council President Jim Cowan to focus efforts on opening additional day care centers to help with the city’s anticipated growth.

Airport manager to retire; replacement named

The longtime manager of the Chickasha Municipal Airport will be retiring this spring. Clint Ferguson has spent nearly 20 years at the airport. City Manager Keith Johnson announced during last night’s meeting that Darren Martin will assume that post after Ferguson's retirement. Martin has worked for the city for a number of years in the Community Development Department.

Two residents appointed to city boards 

The council also approved the appointments of two individuals to city boards. Brooklyn White and Nita Ladd were both appointed to the Planning Commission and White will also serve on the Board of Adjustments.

 

Medicine Park Venue a Great Place to Spend a Day

Families looking for a day trip with the kids might check out the Medicine Park Aquarium and Natural Sciences Center. The center has been open nearly seven years and initially started with only an aquarium but has since expanded to include a number of exhibits. Rainette Rowland is the director of the center and says among them is one called Creepy Crawlies-

 

              

 

 

The center hosts a number of school field trips each year and is open seven days a week except for Thanksgiving and Christmas. The center is north of Lawton near the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.19 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.47.

Natural gas is $1.61 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,037 and silver is $23.10.

 

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Monday, Feb. 19th

 

Chix City Council to Discuss Next Phase of Water Plant Work

A proposal to approve a portion of an agreement with the firm that is designing and engineering the City of Chickasha's new water treatment plant is expected to get the go-ahead by the city council tonight. The proposal with the firm Freese and Nichols calls for the design of a plant that will be able to treat six million gallons of water per day and provide features to increase that to up to eight million gallons per day. Among the work to be done in the preliminary design phase is water quality testing, evaluating transmission lines, preliminary construction to transition service from the current plant to the new one; and evaluation of the current plant and recommendations of de-commissioning specific equipment and processes. The total cost of this phase is just over $2 million.

Grant for new downtown business proposed

The council will also consider approving a $40,000 Central Business District Building Grant for Alora Real Estate which recently renovated a building at 411 Chickasha Avenue for its new office. The grant is being recommended for approval by the city's economic development council.

Claim for car damaged by pothole likely to be denied

The council is also to consider denying a tort claim filed by Malory Wilson who said her car was damaged when she hit a sink hole at a manhole cover at 8th and Chickasha Avenue.  The city's insurance carrier recommends the council deny the $300 claim. The council will meet at 6:30 tonight at city hall. The meeting will be video streamed on the city's YouTube channel which can be accessed on the city's website. The meeting will also be televised on Optimum Cable Channel 3.

 

State Panel Takes Steps to Prevent Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is an issue that doesn't get much media attention. Officials with the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women say that every year about 4,000 Oklahomans seek help from trafficking situations. Brenda Barwick is the chairwoman of the commission and says that trafficking is modern day slavery and a $150 billion a year industry.  She says the panel was initially formed to help support law enforcement efforts and for victim services. Now, the effort includes being pro-active and to offer programs to teach individuals - especially young adults and teens - about what to be aware of so they don’t become a victim-

 

              

 

 

Barwick calls the effort the Not Me, Not My Community initiative and promotes telephone hot lines, websites, and non-profit groups that provide services to survivors of human trafficking. She said victims can text 'HELP' to 233-2733 (BE FREE)

 

Southwest District Livestock Show Concludes

The swine show results are in from the Southwest District Livestock Show that was held at the Grady County Fairgrounds last week.

Purebred Gilts

Kennedy Clark of Minco had the grand champion; Wade Richey of Altus had the reserve grand; and Mattyson Lindsay of Mt. View-Gotebo had the bronze.

Commercial Gilts

Kennedy Clark also had the grand champion; while Josie Felton of El Reno had the reserve champion; and Bridger Lott of Hydro-Eakly had the bronze.

Barrows

Gavin Straka of Yukon had the grand champion; Carson New of Sterling had the reserve grand; and Saylor Norvell of Ampo had the bronze.

 

Darrell Peel to Speak with Local Ag Producers

Area agriculture producers will be able to meet with OSU Extension Livestock Specialist Darrell Peel tomorrow. Peel will be speaking at the Grady County Ag Producers meeting tomorrow morning. The meeting will be held at the Grady County OSU Extension Office starting at 7:00 a.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.19 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.47.

Natural gas is $1.61 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,030 and silver is $23.19.

 

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Saturday, Feb. 17th

State's Energy Sector Job Number Steady

Employment in Oklahoma's energy sector is down a fraction. A study shows the state had just over 49,000 jobs in that area last month. That number ranks third in the country behind Texas with more than 314,000 jobs and Louisiana with nearly 54,000. The report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics show that nationwide the number of jobs was down less than one percent from December. Officials say the industry is being impacted by unprecedented attacks from federal regulations. But they are hopeful that as energy demand continues to grow the trend should be for the number of jobs to also increase.

 

Texas Man Suspected of Drug Trafficking

A Texas man is behind held in the Grady County Jail for alleged drug trafficking. 29-year old Daniel Lugo of Pearland, Texas - which is south of Houston - was arrested by a state trooper on Thursday. No details were available about why Lugo was pulled over or what prompted the arrest. On-line court records show that the Grady County District Attorney's office has charged Lugo with a felony for drug trafficking and a judge set his bond at $150,000.

 

Environmentalists Want Farmers to Report Emissions from Manure

Should farmers have to submit air emissions reports from manure? The Environmental Protection Agency is considering such a requirement. The website OK Energy Today writes that there is a bi-partisan effort to prevent it from happening. Nearly 50 members in the House of Representatives have signed a letter asking the EPA to not force producers to do so. None of the members of the Oklahoma delegation signed the letter. The letter states that it would be an unnecessary and unjustifiable burden to producers, that it would result in extensive paperwork backlogs, and divert resources away from actual emergencies. It also indicates that local and state emergency response officials say that receiving such reports is of no particular value. Former President Donald Trump exempted animal manure from a law that required reports on chemical releases. But environmental groups are now urging the EPA to revoke the exemption, claiming pollution from animal waste is making people sick in rural communities.

 

Talk Show Topic

On this week’s KOOL Konversation, Brenda Barwick with the Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women is discussing the group’s effort to stop human trafficking. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituary

Jerry Gibson

Funeral service for Jerry Gibson, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 19^th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked in the grocery business for many years.

 

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Friday, Feb. 16th

 

Death Penalty Sought for Caretaker of Child Found Dead

The Caddo County District Attorney’s office will seek the death penalty for Alysia Adams. She's one of the caretakers who authorities say was responsible for the death of Athena Brownfield two years ago. The body of the four-year old Cyril girl was found buried in a field near Agawam about two weeks after she was reported missing.  Prosecutors are asking for the death penalty saying that Adams knowingly created a great risk of death to more than one person, and that Athena's death was especially heinous, atrocious, and cruel. The state medical examiner's office reported that Brownfield died from malnutrition and pneumonia. Adams is currently being held in the Grady County Jail.

 

Hospital the Site of 'Active Shooter' Training Today

Grady Memorial Hospital will be the site of some active shooter training today. The Grady County Sheriff's Office and state troopers will spend much of the day working on several different scenarios. Officials say there will be simulated gun shots throughout the day and residents in the area will see a big police presence. Grady County deputy Phillip McCarthy says as many as 15 law enforcement officers are taking part in the training along with about 100 Grady Memorial Hospital employees. The exercise is in advance of an active shooter drill that will take place at the hospital next month.

 

Speakers Scheduled for USAO Symposium on Autism

A scientist whose life was the subject of an Emmy-award winning film will be one of the keynote speakers at USAO's annual Emerson-Weir Symposium next week. Colorado State University Professor Dr. Temple Grandin, a prominent speaker on both autism and animal behavior, was featured in HBO's award-winning film An Open Door last year. Also speaking will be Tim Herbel who founded a non-profit group called Not Your Average Joe which works to help autistic individuals find meaningful employment. Grandin and Herbel will discuss their work at the symposium in conjunction with USAO's Neill-Wint Center for Neurodiversity. The program will be held Friday, Feb. 23^rd in Davis Hall at 6:00 p.m. The program is free but registration is required.

 

Southwest District Livestock Show Continues

Checking the results of the cattle and the broiler shows at the Southwest District Livestock Show.

Market Steers

The grand champion was shown by Madison Shout of Piedmont; the reserve-grand shown by Brett Sturgeon of Cordell; and the bronze shown by Paisley Visnieski of Canute.

Prospect Steers

Claire Collins of Tillman County had the grand champion; Maddox Shout of Piedmont had the reserve-grand; and Cierra Collins of Tillman County had the bronze.

Heifers

The grand champion was shown by Braden Buchwald of Chattanooga; the reserve-grand shown by Reagan Wilbourn of Tuttle; and the bronze shown by Kamden Fillipo of Rush Springs.

Broilers
The grand champion was exhibited by Drew Griffith of Clinton; the reserve-grand by Cassi Ray also of Clinton; and the bronze shown by Gage Stegall of Burns Flat-Dill City. The swine show will start today and will run through Saturday morning. The show will end about noon tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.03 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.86.

Natural gas is $1.58 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,018 and silver is $23.07.

 

Obituary

Ila Watson

A memorial service for Ila Watson, 82, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Epworth United Methodist Church. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, Feb. 15th

 

Power Outages Extend into Fourth Day

Utility crews are still working to restore power to areas that have been without electricity since Sunday night's winter weather. About 340 households and businesses throughout the CK Energy service area remain without power. The website which shows outages state wide (outages.oaec.coop) indicates CK Energy still has 233 outages in Caddo County; 58 outages in Canadian County; 38 in Washita County; and 12 in Comanche County.

 

Chix Chamber Seeks Nominees for Annual Awards

The Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is now in its second century of serving the community and officials are preparing for the chamber’s 101st annual banquet. The organization is accepting nominations for a number of awards that will be presented. Among them will be an inductee into the Civic Hall of Fame, event of the year, business and small business of the year, citizen of the year, public servant of the year, volunteer of the year, and young professional of the year. Nominations need to be submitted by March 8th. The chamber banquet will be held April 12th.

 

City of Chix Dog Park Temporarily Closed

Chickasha city officials say the Badgett Dog Park will be closed for seasonal maintenance today and tomorrow. Crews sprayed a pre-emergent weed control chemical at the park earlier this week. The park is to re-open on Saturday.

 

Southwest District Livestock Show Underway

The first day of the Southwest District Livestock Show Wednesday featured the sheep and goat shows as well as the agriculture mechanics show.

Sheep Show

For the ewe lambs, LaRay Cox of Elgin had the grand champion; Sayde Allen of Canute had the reserve-grand; and Kobi Scroggins of Tuttle had the bronze.

For the wether lambs, Sayde Allen had the grand champion; Kobi Scroggins the reserve-grand; and Jack Thomas of Canute had the bronze.

Goat Show

For the doe goats, Kobi Scroggins had the grand champion; Jennica Williams of Ft. Cobb-Broxton had the reserve-grand; and McRae Waldon of Hinton had the bronze.

For the wether goats, Peyton Wimberly of Merritt had the grand champion; Sayde Allen had the reserve-grand; and Baylor Pearson of El Reno had the bronze.

Ag Mechanics

In Ag Mechanics, Elgin FFA had the grand champion; Stran Taylor of Canute had the reserve-grand; and Elgin FFA also had the bronze. The cattle show will be today at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Big Band Era Music at USAO Tonight

USAO will have a night of big band music this evening as the World Famous Glen Miller Orchestra takes the stage as part of the Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series. The evening will get started with members of the Chickasha High School band opening the show. The concert begins at 7:30 at Te Ata Memorial Auditorium and tickets will be available at the door.

 

Darko Police Offers Unique Valentine's Day 'Gifts'

Anadarko police had an interesting way of encouraging individuals to turn in their exes on Valentine's Day. A post on the department's Facebook page said if exes had arrest warrants or are involved in illegal activities; the ex would get some limited edition platinum bracelets; free transportation with a chauffeur; glamour shots; and a room with dinner. 

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.64 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.60.

Natural gas is $1.61 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,007 and silver is $22.64.

 

Obituaries

Wilma Avant

A private memorial service will be held for Wilma Avant, 90, of Chickasha. She was a homemaker and worked at the Southern Plains Medical Clinic. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Pamela Doherty

A memorial service for Pamela Doherty, 75, of Yukon and formerly of the Dibble area will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Southgate Baptist Church in Moore. She worked at Tinker Air Force Base. Arrangements are with Ireland Funeral Home in Moore.

 

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Wednesday, Feb. 14th

 

Power Outages Linger

Members of Oklahoma's electric co-ops were hit especially hard with Sunday's snow storm. There were thousands of power outages and a lot them were in Grady, Caddo, Canadian, and Comanche counties. There are still hundreds of CK Energy co-op members without power this morning with some 812 members still in the dark. That's way down from the estimated 7,000 who were without electricity at the peak of the outage. CK Energy spokesman Boyd Lee –

 

              

 

 

About 120 poles and numerous cross arms were damaged or destroyed. Lee said that employees from several other co-ops and private contractors have been helping to restore power. As of this morning, CK Energy reported 423 outages in Caddo County; 29 outages in Grady County; 145 in Canadian County; 75 in Kiowa County; and 26 in Comanche County.

 

Mixed Results in Tuesday’s School Bond Elections

Tuttle

Voters turned down two bond issues totaling about $1.3 million. Each needed 60 percent approval to pass however more than half of the voters said no to both proposals. A $1 million proposal for roof repairs and the purchase of several items received 244 no votes and only 203 yes votes. A $250,000 proposal to purchase two buses failed by a similar vote with 239 voting no and only 208 voting yes.

Ft. Cobb-Broxton

It was a better result for the Ft. Cobb-Broxton school district as voters overwhelmingly approved a $21 million bond issue for school improvements. It was a more than 80 percent approval with four out of every five giving their approval, 204 to 49. It will allow the district to renovate the middle and elementary schools and build a couple of new classrooms. It's the largest bond issue in the district's history.

Central High

Voters in the Central High school district approved a $6 million bond issue to build a new Career and Technology Education Center. It passed with 62 percent of the vote 172 to 104 with a slim seven-vote margin.

 

School Board Primary Election Results

There were primary elections for board of education offices in a couple of Grady County school districts yesterday.

Ninnekah

Incumbent Delanie Berry defeated three challengers to avoid a run-off and keep her seat on the school board. Berry received nearly 62 percent of the vote with 76 tallies. Mark Fulton received 26; Damon Stephens collected 16; and Jeff Chadrick had 3.

Minco

A run-off election will be needed as none of four candidates received a majority of the vote. The top two were Mike Herrell and Jared Rumley. Herrell received 141 votes; Rumley picked up 131 tallies; Paige Teel collected 40 votes; and David Brummel received 31. Herrell and Rumley will meet in the run-off on April 2nd with the winner to fill the office currently held by Lance McKee who did not run for re-election.

 

Grady County GOP Convention is Tomorrow Night

Grady County Republicans will hold their county convention tomorrow night. It's an event that could allow one of the members to be an Oklahoma delegate at the National Republican Convention in Milwaukee this summer. County Chairwoman Carrie Bertrand says any registered Republican can attend and she would like to have representation from all 28 county districts. The convention is open to all registered Republicans who can help draft recommendations to be considered for state and national platforms. Attendees will need to have identification such as a driver's license or passport and will also need their voter ID cards. The county convention will be held at Chickasha's First Baptist Church at 4th and Colorado. Registration begins at 5:15 p.m. and a potluck dinner will be served. Precinct meetings will begin at 6:00 p.m. and the county convention will follow at 7:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.77.

Natural gas is $1.67 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,005 and silver is $22.10.

 

Obituary

Robena Fuller

A memorial service for Robena Fuller, 60, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Epworth Methodist Church. She served in the U.S. Navy, was a professional driver for Union Pacific Railroad, and worked as a receptionist. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, Feb. 13th

 

Power Outages Remain after Winter Storm

There are still hundreds families and businesses in the region dealing with power outages in the aftermath of Sunday's winter storm. Many of them are in Grady, Caddo, and Canadian counties. CK Energy was one of the co-ops bearing the brunt of the storm with more than 4,000 members still without power. As of this morning the count was 215 in Grady County; more than 2,100 in Caddo County; about 1,200 in Canadian County; and about 100 in Comanche County. CK Energy spokesman Boyd Lee said more than 120 power poles and as many or more cross-arms were damaged or destroyed. Lee said a total of 100 workers including those from CK Energy, other co-ops, and a few contractors are making progress today. He expects that power should be restored to most areas by the end of the day.

 

Some Voters to Decide School Bond Issues Today

Voters in a few regional school districts are going to the polls today to decide special bond issues. There are two bond issues in Tuttle – the first is for almost $1 million to repair and replace roofs at the elementary and middle schools; purchase new playground equipment, a truck for the high school ag department, equipment for the auditorium, and equipment for most of the sports teams. The second is a $250,000 bond issue to purchase two buses, including a 77-passenger bus and a 44-passenger activity bus.

Ft. Cobb-Broxton

Voters will decide a nearly $21 million bond issue to renovate both the elementary and middle schools and build new classrooms to house new art and music classes.

Central High

Voters will decide a more than $6 million bond issue to build a new Career and Technology Education Center. Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. tonight.

 

Chix Schools Host Parent-Teacher Conferences

Chickasha Public Schools are holding parent-teacher conferences throughout the district this week. For the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Education Center, conferences will be this afternoon from 3:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m.; for Grand Avenue, they will be today and Thursday from 3:00 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.; for Lincoln Elementary they will be from 3:45 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. both tonight and Thursday (Lincoln school will also a fundraiser selling Bundt cakes along with a scholastic book fair at the library tonight); middle and high school conferences will be today and Thursday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. There is no school for Chickasha students Friday or next Monday so they’ll have a four-day weekend.  Teachers will have a professional development day Monday.

 

Southwest District Livestock Show About to Begin

Today is move-in day for the first of the youth who will be exhibiting animals and ag mechanics projects at the Southwest District Livestock Show at the Grady County Fairgrounds this week. About 1,500 youth from 14 southwest Oklahoma counties will be showing about 2,000 animals this year. Show chairman Jerry Renshaw talks about what will be coming in today.

 

              

 

 

More than $15,000 in prize money will be doled out by week's end. There will be more than 20 agriculture-related vendors on hand for the event which will run through Saturday.

 

Chix Library Chocolate Celebration Tonight

Everything is coming up chocolate for the Friends of the Chickasha Library chocolate celebration tonight. Thousands of servings of chocolaty goodies will be available. More than a dozen local groups are to have at least 200 servings each to choose from. Tickets are $6 with each ticket holder choosing six servings. There will also be a bake sale. The chocolate celebration will be held at the Epworth Methodist Church Life Center from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. tonight.

 

Disabled American Veterans Meet Tonight

Grady County DAV Chapter 17 will have its monthly meeting tonight. It's a Valentine's Day meeting and families are welcome. The meeting will get underway at 6:00 p.m. at the DAV headquarters downtown Chickasha at 6th and Chickasha Ave.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.92 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.00.

Natural gas is $1.77 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,040 and silver is $22.98.

 

Obituary

Christal Hopkins

Funeral service for Christal Hopkins, 48, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 15th at New Life Christian Church. She was a substitute teacher and worked at Grady Memorial Hospital.  Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, Feb. 12th

 

Three to be Inducted into Chix Schools Hall of Honor

Several long time educators will be inducted into Chickasha Public Schools’ Hall of Honor.

Jim Glaze

Glaze spent 30 years with the district as a teacher, coach, principal, and superintendent. While serving as superintendent he was at the helm when the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Education Center and the Chickasha High School Activity Center were built.

Harly Day

Day coached several sports and guided boys basketball teams to two state titles in the 1950s. He was the high school principal for nearly 20 years and is already a member of the Grady County Administrators and the Oklahoma Coaches Association Halls of Fame.

Judy Duprez

Duprez was a high school English teacher for nearly 40 years and also served as an adjunct professor at USAO. She also was a member of the Oklahoma and the National Councils of English Teachers. All will be inducted into the Hall of Honor in April during the Chickasha Public School Foundation annual gala.

 

Study of Chix Public Pool Shows Upgrades will be Costly

The municipal swimming pool at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park has had its share of problems over the last several years. The pool is almost 40 years old and a company recently completed an inspection of the pool to provide recommendations on upgrades and repairs. The study from Paddock Enterprises of Oklahoma City shows that among the major problems are mechanical issues in the pump room and the chemical feed is not working; that neither the pool nor the bath house are compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act; and the pool loses more than 15,000 gallons of water per day when its open. The study recommends that between $2 million and $3 million in repairs and renovations are needed which include the construction of a new bath house and the addition of a splash pad. The study is expected to be reviewed by the city’s parks and recreation board which will make its recommendations to the city council. Officials expect the pool to be open this summer.

 

Crimestoppers Seeks Info on Missing Chickasha Man

Grady County Crimestoppers is seeking information about a missing Chickasha man. 46-year old Richard Clarence Houston was reported missing August 29th of last year. He was last seen in the area of Life Skills Institute at 7th and Colorado. He had been working at Dairy Queen prior to his disappearance. He is Caucasian with short, brown hair and may have a slight moustache and goatee. He has a prosthetic right leg and often walks with a cane. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Richard Clarence Houston is asked to call Crimestoppers at 405-224-TIPS or leave an anonymous tip on the Grady County Crimestoppers Facebook page. A reward could be paid if the information leads to finding him.

 

Obituaries

Fred Wilcox

A memorial service for Fred Wilcox, 48, of Ninnekah will be held at noon Friday, Feb. 16th at First Church of Chickasha. He was a welder and drove modified stock and E Sprint cars. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Stanley Davis

A memorial service for Stanley Davis, 66, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 17th at Sevier Funeral Home. He worked in the oilfield and was a car salesman.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.19.

Natural gas is $1.85 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,034 and silver is $22.98.

 

Friend Boys Basketball Team Wins State Title

The Friend Falcon boys basketball team won the Organization of Rural Elementary Schools (ORES) Division III state basketball tournament over the weekend. The Falcons defeated Holly Creek 35-21 for the title in Shawnee Saturday night. Karson Surber was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player and was joined on the all-tournament team by Blaine Keeton and Gabriel Garcia.

Middleberg Girls have All Tournament Team Member

Middlelerg's Bentli Brantley was named to the ORES Division II all-tournament team. Middleberg advance to the semi-finals of the state tournament.

 

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Saturday, Feb. 10th

 

Senate Bill Would Toughen Penalties for Fentanyl Makers

Among the many bills considered during the first week of the legislative session at the state capital is one aimed at more severe punishments for those who manufacture fentanyl. SB 1280 is authored by State Senator Darrell Weaver (R-Moore) who has ties to Grady and Stephens counties.  The bill calls for prison sentences ranging from seven years to life for those convicted of the crime. Weaver calls fentanyl a deadly scourge that is wreaking havoc on families and communities across the country. He said fentanyl-related deaths in Oklahoma have risen from 39 in 2019 to 619 in 2022. Weaver's bill received unanimous approval in the Senate Public Safety Committee and will be heard by the full senate later in the session.

 

Assault Suspect Jailed On $50,000 Bond 

A 20-year old Chickasha man was arrested and charged in connection with an assault that took place this week. Chickasha police arrested Marcus Salazar after responding to a call in the 600 block of South 7th Street just before 9:00 a.m. Thursday. No details were provided on the Chickasha police blotter. Salazar has been charged with a felony count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and his bond was set at $50,000.

 

Police Take Plunge for Special Olympics

A few Chickasha police officers took a polar plunge for a good cause today. Law enforcement agencies across the state were challenged to take the plunge to support of Oklahoma Special Olympics. More than 12,000 athletes will take part in the state games in Stillwater in May. The Chickasha officers accepting the challenge are Assistant Police Chief Daiman Alexander, Lt. Gillian O'Brien, and officer recruits Martin Amerson and Eric Robledo. The plunge took place at Hurricane Harbor in Oklahoma City this morning. They’ll accept contributions through next week at the Chickasha Police Department.

 

Cheese-making, Other Workshops Offered at USAO

Have you ever tried to - or considered making your own cheese? It's one of three workshops to be held by USAO this spring. All are presentations with the Jean McLaughlin Outdoor Education and Research Center. The cheese workshop will be Saturday, Feb. 17th with a local dairy farmer providing the milk. Participants will explore various fermentation processes and craft their own cheese. There is a $30 registration fee.

Dye making

On Saturday, April 20th, participants can learn how to make their own dye from plants and use it to color fabric and create water colors for painting. The cost for that workshop is $10.

Bird watching and photography

The final workshop is Saturday, May 11th and is for bird watching and photography which is a free event. For information and to register for the workshops, visit the website usao.edu and scroll down to find the News and Events page.

 

Talk Show Topic

Lewis Knisley with the Chickasha Area YMCA is our guest on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast of the program under the Community Tab on this website.

 

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Friday, Feb. 9th

 

Drug Trafficking Suspect On Probation for Previous Charges

The suspect arrested by the District Six Drug Task Force for alleged drug distribution this week is currently on probation after pleading guilty to similar charges a few years ago. 46-year old Lacey Nicole Montgomery of Chickasha was arrested Wednesday after the task force served a search warrant at the Quality Inn Motel where she was staying. Agents say they found nearly 400 grams of meth in the room. A probable cause affidavit indicates Montgomery was later arrested at work where she had more meth in her car. Montgomery previously pleaded guilty to drug charges stemming from arrests in 2016 and 2022. She remains in jail on a more than a half-million dollar bond and prosecutors want to revoke her probation on the previous charges.

 

Anadarko Murder Suspect Found in Caddo County Jail

A murder charge has been filed against a Caddo County jail inmate in connection with the shooting death of an Anadarko man. 23-year old Davantae Winters is accused of last December's death of D'angelo Pollard. Pollard's body was found slumped over in a car parked at an Anadarko home the night of December 7th. Winters was arrested a couple of weeks later in a separate case of domestic assault and battery. The Lawton Constitution cites court documents that say Anadarko police received several tips that the two men were involved in a number of confrontations before the shooting and that Winters had threatened to kill Pollard. The murder charge was filed yesterday afternoon and Winters may have his initial appearance in Caddo County District Court today.

 

Controlled Burns Set for Wildlife Refuge

The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge will be conducting some controlled burns over the next couple of days. Officials say recent weather conditions have given them an opportunity to have the much-needed burns near the Lake Elmer Thomas Dam and on private lands along the western edge of the refuge. Traffic control will be implemented as needed and could cause some delays for area residents and refuge visitors. Authorities also say smoke from the controlled burns will likely be visible for several miles and residual smoke may hang around a for a few days.

 

Benefit for Fire Victims is Tonight

A fundraiser is set for a family that lost their home in a fire. The home of Billy King and Beth Riley in the Cement area was destroyed Jan. 20th. A benefit will be held at the Legends Pub House and Venue tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. with live music starting at 7:00 p.m. A silent auction will be held as well. Tickets are $10 with ticket proceeds going to family.

 

Monthly Chickasha Art Walk Resumes

After a winter hiatus the monthly Chickasha Art Walk resumes tonight. This is the first anniversary of the event which began in February of last year. Reyna Ponce is the coordinator for the art walks this year and talks about some of the artisans who will be on hand.

 

              

 

 

The art walk will be downtown and mainly around the Leg Lamp with a food truck on hand and some restaurants will be open. Live entertainment will be provided by Mitch Williams, AKA Piano Mitch. The art walk is from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and it is free to attend. They will be held the second Friday of each month.

 

4Hers Learn Job-Related Skills

Youth who take part in 4H learn many of skills they'll need when they eventually enter the work force. Mesa Payne is the vice president of Grady County 4H. She says problem solving and teamwork are just two of the areas they focus on.

 

              

 

 

Payne says she has presented more than 65 speeches since she's been a 4H member.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.63.

Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,047 and silver is $22.72.

 

Obituary

Lareesea Callahan

Funeral service for Lareesea Callahan, 68, of Amber will be held at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 13th at the Amber Mission Holiness Church. She worked at Delta Faucet, Ken's Steakhouse, and Salt Creek Casino. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, Feb. 8th

 

Chix City Council Filings: Grayson Runs Unopposed for Mayor

Chickasha will have a new mayor and at least three new city council members this spring. The new mayor will be Zach Grayson who filed un-opposed for the post during this week's filing period which ended yesterday (Wednesday). Grayson, a businessman and a U.S. Army veteran, was first elected to the council in 2018 and currently serves as vice mayor. Grayson will take over for current Mayor Chris Mosley who did not run for re-election after serving six years as mayor.

Ward 4 Candidates

Grayson was serving in Ward 4 so there will be a new council representative in that post. Three candidates are in the field including Isaac DeLeon, John Smith, and Eric Anderson.

Ward 3 Has New Councilor

After serving 10 years on the city council Ward 3 councilman Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander did not run for re-election. His successor will be Erica Alexander who filed un-opposed for the seat.

Ward 2 Candidates

Daniel Terry and Charlie Burruss have filed for Ward 2. The winner will move into the office currently held by Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin who was appointed to fill an unexpired term last year.

Ward 1 Incumbent has Challenger

Kea Ginn will face David Lucas for that post in the city council election which will be held April 2nd.

 

Drug Task Force Arrests Suspect After Serving Search Warrant

Law enforcement officials take down a suspected drug trafficker. The District Six Drug Task Force and the Grady County Sheriff's Office served a search warrant at a Chickasha motel yesterday. A post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page indicates the search warrant was served at the Quality Inn. Authorities seized nearly 450 grams of methamphetamine and suspected Psilocybin mushrooms. Arrested was 45-year old Lacey Nicole Montgomery of Chickasha who has a previous drug conviction. Late today (Thursday) she was charged with felony trafficking and bond was set at $550,000.

 

More State Highway 19 Upgrades About to Begin

Big improvements for State Highway 19 between Ninnekah and Bradley will get underway next week. Officials with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) say the contractor for the project is expected to get started next Thursday. It's a more than $42 million project to widen the highway, add shoulders, reduce hills, and straighten curves. The improvements will begin near the Highway 19 and Dell Street intersection and run eight miles east to near the current project underway near Bradley. It's expected to take about three years to complete. ODOT officials say the contractor will have 930 working days to finish but Silver Star Construction officials have said they can do the work in about 700 days or about two years.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.89 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $79.21.

Natural gas slips below $2 to $1.97 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,047 and silver is $22.45.

 

Obituary

Vera Polson

A graveside service will be held for Vera Polson, 92, of Tuttle at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 9th at the Amber Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, Feb. 7th

 

Chix City Council OK's Healthy Food Task Force in Split Vote

RANCH News reported yesterday that the Chickasha City Council approved a resolution to form a Healthy Food Task Force this week. The task force came as a recommendation from the state's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) program. The task force is to study the access that families have to both healthy and non-healthy foods. After the survey, the city will receive a $120,000 TSET grant which city officials say could be used to make improvements to city parks. AT Monday night’s city council meeting, Chickasha resident Tory Wise said the city has other things to worry about besides what families are eating-

 

              

 

 

In a split vote the measure passed 5-4. Mayor Chris Mosley cast the tie-breaking vote joining Oscar Nelson, Kia Ginn, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, and Zach Grayson in supporting the plan. Council members Kelly Boyd, Rick Croslin, Brian Gerdes, and Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander voted against it. The council unanimously approved all five members of the task force which includes health department employees Daryn Kirkpatrick and Zane Winters, Chickasha Police Chief G.G. Music, Public Works Director Jim Crosby, and Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Winzenreid.

 

Two Chix City Council Races Result After Day 2 of Filing

Two races have developed for the spring Chickasha City Council election. After the second day of filing for office Tuesday, three candidates have filed for Ward Four. They are Isaac DeLeon, Eric Anderson, and John Smith. Two candidates have filed for Ward Two - Charlie Burruss filed Tuesday and Daniel Terry who filed Monday. Vice Mayor Zach Grayson is still the only candidate to file for mayor and there have been no filings for the Ward One nor Ward Three offices up for election. Today is the final day candidates can file. Filing takes place at Chickasha City Hall until 5 p.m.

 

Former Firefighter Sought for Fire Station Break-in

A warrant for the arrest of a former Grady County firefighter has been issued after he allegedly broke into the fire department he used to work for. Authorities are looking for 29-year old Jordan Long of Oklahoma City who previously worked at the Tuttle fire department. KSWO-TV cites court documents which indicate that Long was identified through video surveillance at the station. A man identified as Long and an unidentified woman were seen rummaging through storage cabinets, fire trucks, and medical bags. The report says that a medical bag was found in a Chickasha motel room which was traced to a room rented by Long. It was reported that Long admitted to the fire chief that he broke into the station but didn't remember a lot of what happened.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.71 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $78.59.

Natural gas is $2.01 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,049 and silver is $22.31.

 

Obituary

Ila Watson

A memorial service for Ila Watson, 82, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. She was an award-winning artist and had some of her work displayed at the state capital. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chickasha Area Arts Council.

 

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Tuesday, Feb. 6th

 

City Council Reps Criticized for Missing too Many Meetings

A couple of Chickasha City Council members were recently criticized for missing a lot of council meetings over the past year. Ward 4 Councilman Kelly Boyd and Ward 3 Councilman R.P. Ashanti-Alexander had not attended 75 percent of the council meetings as required by the City Charter. In last night’s meeting, Mayor Chris Mosley showed the attendance records of all city council members over the course of the last 12 months. Boyd and Ashanti-Alexander were not pleased and the two had this exchange with the mayor-

 

              

 

 

The charter calls for those with excessive absences to be removed from the council. The mayor said after the meeting that he does not expect that to happen.

Council Narrowly OKs Healthy Food Task Force

In a split vote, the council voted 5-4 to approve a resolution to establish a Healthy Food Task Force. It calls for a community assessment of the availability of healthy foods vs. fast food. The city will receive a $120,000 grant from the state's Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) program as part of the resolution which officials say does not include any new city ordinances or regulations.

 

City Council Filing Period off to a Slow Start

Only two candidates came forward to file for Chickasha City Council posts in the first day of filing yesterday. Ward 4 Councilman Zach Grayson filed to run for mayor. And Daniel Terry filed for the Ward 2 post. Terry owns and operates Pro Auto Care. Terry is filing for the post held by Chickasha School Superintendent Rick Croslin who was appointed to the post last year. Croslin said he will not be running for a full two-year term. The mayor's seat and one office in each of the city's four wards are up for election. The filing period runs through 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7^th at city hall.

 

USAO to Host Discussion to Battle Human Trafficking

USAO will host a panel discussion this week to help high school and college students become aware of the early signs human trafficking. The Oklahoma Commission on the Status of Women will present the program which is open to parents and anyone wanting to learn how to stop trafficking. USAO professor Dr. Tonnia Anderson says in most cases victims fall prey to predators who at first form innocent relationships with teens and young adults.

 

              

 

 

Panelists for this community conversation include professionals and experts on several aspects of human trafficking which is said to be a $150 billion a year industry. The discussion is the first of a two-part series with the follow-up being a statewide Not Me, Not My Community initiative. The USAO program will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, February 9^th at the USAO Ballroom.

 

Recording Artist Toby Keith Succumbs to Cancer

Oklahoma and country music star Toby Keith passed away overnight. Keith had been battling stomach cancer since 2022. He had 20 No. 1 hits on the Billboard Music Chart including How Do You Like Me  Now; Should've Been A Cowboy; As Good As I Once Was; and Beer for My Horses which was a duet with Willie Nelson. Toby Keith was 62.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.78 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.99.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,040 and silver is $22.36.

 

Obituary

Paula Fitzpatrick

A memorial luncheon for Paula Fitzpatrick, 71, of Lawton and formerly of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8th at Chickasha's First Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

 

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Monday, Feb. 5th

 

Law Enforcement 'Swatted' with False Call

The Chickasha Police Department continues its investigation of a fake crime call they received early Sunday morning claiming an individual had just killed his parents, wanted to blow up his home, and would shoot officers if they responded. But when officers and numerous first responders did arrive on the scene, they found no crime had occurred.  Authorities say it’s called 'Swatting'. Police say they received call just after 2:30 a.m. Sunday. Among the agencies responding were the Chickasha Fire Department, Grady County Sheriff's Office, state troopers, Chickasaw Lighthorse authorities, and Ninnekah police. Investigators made contact with individuals inside the home who were safe and not involved in the call that was received. Authorities when to a second home that was reported to have been involved which was also cleared. Authorities say swatting calls are criminal offenses that violate state and federal laws and punishable by prison time and fines. Officials say in addition to the potential danger to first responders and residents, valuable resources are consumed during such calls. Anyone with information is asked to reach out to the Chickasha police department.

 

Filing Period Opens for Chickasha City Council

The filing period for Chickasha City Council is under way. Candidates will file their applications at city hall over the next three days. The mayor and four council seats are up for election, and Mayor Chris Mosley will not be running for re-election. Vice Mayor and Ward 4 Councilman Zach Grayson has announced his intentions to run. One council seat in each of the city’s four wards are also up for election. In Ward One it’s the office currently held by Kea Ginn, In Ward Two it’s the seat that Rick Croslin holds, and in Ward 3 its Dr. R.P. Ashanti-Alexander. The filing period ends at 5 p.m. Wednesday, February 7^th. The city council election will be April 2nd.

 

Council to Get Capital Project Update 

The city council meets tonight and will be getting an update on capital projects from City Manager Keith Johnson and Public Works Director Jim Crosby. The panel will also consider a resolution to form a Healthy Food Task Force and appoint members to that panel. The panel will also consider accepting a donation to make some upgrades to the Badgett Family Dog Park. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall. The meeting can be viewed on the city's YouTube channel accessible on the city's website and will be televised on Optimum Cable Channel 3.

 

Darci Lynne Gets Chickasha Help for New Venture

A talented Oklahoma teen has released her first record. You might remember Darci Lynne Farmer of Edmond wowed the country by winning America's Got Talent as a 12-year old ventriloquist in 2017. She also co-starred in the movie 'A Cowgirl's Song' with Cheryll Ladd that was filmed mainly in Chickasha. Now nineteen years old she is plying her talents in the music industry. The single called ‘Push Our Luck' was released today. She's been working on this latest artistic journey for a while.

 

         

 

‘Push Our Luck’ is a country-rock song with a lot of energy. The song was co-written by Maggie McLure and Shane Henry (who are The Imaginaries) and they play on the song as well. Chickasha filmmaker Reagan Elkins produced the music video. It premiered today on People.com.

 

Obituary

Bill 'BJ' Hartis

A memorial service for 'BJ' Hartis, 34, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked the last few years in the oil and gas industry. Memorial contributions may be made to First Tee.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.28 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $77.33.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,040 and silver is $22.54.

 

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Saturday, Feb. 3rd

 

Mixed News for Oklahoma's Bank Account

Officials with the state treasurer's office say Oklahoma had an overall increase in tax revenue last month. A report on the website OK Energy Today shows more than $1.5 billion in taxes paid which is an overall increase of about 7 1/2 percent from December. The lion's share of that $1.5 billion came from corporate taxes at about $950 million. However, gross production taxes from the energy industry took a tumble. The $12.8 million figure was down about 12 1/2 percent from December. Taking a look at the bigger picture, total tax revenues for all of 2023 were just under $17 billion which was off about 3 percent from the 2022 calendar year.

 

Earthquake Rattles Central, Eastern Oklahoma

There was a whole lotta shakin' goin' on in central parts of the state overnight. An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on Richter Scale rocked parts of Oklahoma about 11:30 p.m. The epicenter of the tremor was near Prague but it was felt from Chickasha to Tulsa and Tahlequah. A number of aftershocks have been shaking the ground since the initial earthquake.

 

Acclaimed Kiowa Author N. Scott Momaday Leaves Lasting Legacy

The literary world is mourning the death of Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Dr. N. Scott Momaday. A member of the Kiowa Tribe, Momaday passed away at his New Mexico home last month at the age of 89. He was the first Native American to win the Pulitzer. It came in 1969 for his book 'House Made of Dawn'.  Momaday was born in Lawton in 1934 to Alfred Momaday, a Kiowa painter, and Natache Scott, a part-Cherokee writer. The family moved to a reservation in Arizona a year later and then to New Mexico in the mid-1940s where Momaday honed his writing skills. Kiowa Tribal Chairman Lawrence Spottedbird said Momaday's writing and life work have inspired other Kiowa citizens to write their own stories, and that he leaves behind an amazing legacy of story-telling that is unparalleled within the American Indian Community.

 

Talk Show Topic

Lilly Huckaby with the Chickasha Public Library and Angie Lewis with the Friends of the Library are on the KOOL Konversation. Find a podcast under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituaries

Dana Stover

Funeral service for Dana Stover, 72, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday, Feb. 5th at Sevier Funeral Home.

Bill ‘BJ’ Hartis

A memorial service for 'BJ' Hartis, formerly of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked the last few years in the oil and gas industry. Memorial contributions may be made to First Tee.

 

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Friday, Feb. 2nd

 

Fugitive Injured, Hospitalized in Shootout with Police

Shots were fired at a Gracemont home last night where a fugitive was injured and flown to a hospital in a medical helicopter. Law enforcement surrounded the home to serve an arrest warrant on 35-year old Preston Lange. He was on probation for having firearms after a previous conviction and had removed his ankle monitor back in mid-December. Our partners at KWTV News 9 report that a tactical team from the Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshalls tried to take Lange into custody. It's reported that Lange fired a weapon at the officers who then returned fire. No officers were injured in the shootout and Lange's condition is unknown.

 

OSBI Looks Into Alleged Misconduct at Caddo County Jail

The OSBI has been called to investigate alleged misconduct at the Caddo County Jail in Anadarko. It's reported a jailer has been fired for having an inappropriate relationship with a female inmate. The inmate is reported to be Alysia Adams. She is charged with murder in connection with the death of four-year old Athena Brownfield of Cyril in January of last year. It's reported that Adams was moved to the Grady County Jail. The name of the fired officer has not been disclosed.

 

Rollover Crash Claims Life of Gracemont Man

A deadly crash in Canadian County claims the life of a Gracemont man. 39-year old Cody Hermann died in the accident that happened north of Cogar just before 1:00 p.m. Thursday. The highway patrol reports that Hermann's Jeep ran off a county road and rolled nearly two times, throwing Hermann out of the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

 

Firefighters Beat Back Flames from Grass Fire

Grady County firefighters spent several hours battling a grass fire between Blanchard and Bridge Creek yesterday.  Crews from Pocasset, Friend, Naples, and Alex were summoned to assist. No property damage was reported.

 

Optimists Host Annual Groundhog Day Event 

A Groundhog Day tradition continues today. The Chickasha Optimist Club has its annual Pancake breakfast. They are serving pancakes and sausage, orange juice, milk, and coffee. Tickets are $7 each and kids five-and-under eat free. Pancake Day is going on at the First Baptist Church at 4th and Colorado until 1:00 p.m.

 

Bullock Memorial Center Fundraiser Tomorrow

A Chickasha group is marking two events in one with a benefit and program tomorrow. The Bullock Memorial Center will commemorate Black History Month and have its Martin Luther King fundraiser that was postponed last month due to cold weather. The MLK fish fry will be from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and tickets are $12. Following the fish fry there will be several guest speakers talking about how the community has impacted their success and how they are passing their values and what they've learned on to the next generation. Speakers include Chickasha high school teacher and coach, Cristie Oliver, minister Milton Bowens, Jr; Chickasha Police Lieutenant Traye Alexander; and retired fire fighter and businessman Bruce Alexander. The program will get underway at 2:00 p.m. and it is free and open to the public. The center is at 917 S. 1^st.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $73.82 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.74.

Natural gas is $2.05 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,071 and silver is $23.30.

 

Obituary

Tommy Hackney

A graveside service for Tommy Hackney, 81, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 5th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He worked as a welder.  Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Thursday, Feb. 1st

 

Hundreds of  the State's Abandoned Oil, Gas Wells to be Plugged

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission will work to plug nearly 600 abandoned oil and gas wells in the state this year. The agency will use state and federal funds – the federal money is from the Biden Administration's Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. The 597 wells targeted are just a fraction of the number of abandoned wells in the state. The Southwest Ledger reports that plugging orders have been issued for nearly 1,900 other wells and there are more than 18,000 additional wells waiting to go through the legal process to get plugged. The Ledger cities corporation commission officials as saying it costs about $20,000 to plug each well.

 

Charges Against Former Apache Town Clerk are now Felonies

In Caddo County, the former clerk for the town of Apache accused of embezzling town funds is now facing felony charges. 45-year old Kelly Lunsford was initially charged with two misdemeanors following her arrest last September. The charges were upgraded to felonies in Caddo County District Court this week. Lunsford is accused of taking about $400 in city funds which includes $280 that a resident paid on a utility bill and another $108 that an individual paid for the impoundment an animal. Lunnsford is out of jail after posting a $5,000 bond. She is to be back in court March 8th for a preliminary hearing conference.

 

SUV Driver Critical After Crash

A Marlow woman was critically injured after the SUV she was driving ran off the road and hit an embankment. 53-year old Dallas Rose-Strutton was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital with head injuries after the crash. The accident happened just after 4:00 a.m. Thursday west of Elmore City in Garvin County. The highway patrol reports she was northbound on State Highway 76 and failed to stop at a stop sign at the T-intersection at State Highway 29.

 

Special School Bond Elections on Ballots This Month

Several school districts in the region have special bond elections scheduled in February.

Tuttle

Voters will decide two bond issues totaling about $1.3 million. The first is for nearly $1 million for constructing, equipping, repairing, and remodeling buildings. The second is for $250,000 to purchases buses and other school vehicles.

Ft. Cobb-Broxton

Voters will decide a nearly $21 million bond issue to renovate the elementary and middle schools both of which were built in the 1950s. The bond will also will include adding two new classrooms to house new art and music classes.

Central High

Voters will decide a more than $6 million bond issue to build a new Career and Technology Education Center. All of these special elections are scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 13th.

 

Chix Police to Take 'Plunge' for Special Olympics

Some Chickasha police officers will be taking a polar plunge for charity. The department has been challenged to raise $2,500 for Oklahoma Special Olympics. The plunge will take place Saturday, Feb. 10th at the Hurricane Harbor water park in Oklahoma City. The officers were challenged by Assistant Police Chief Daimon Alexander who has been a long-time supporter of Special Olympics. He was recently presented with the Tim Stafford Unsung Hero award for his work with the Law Enforcement Torch Run held every spring prior to the state Special Olympic Games in Stillwater.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $75.85 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.71.

Natural gas is $2.10 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,048 and silver is $22.75.

 

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Wednesday, Jan. 31st

 

Onward Chickasha Project Continues Seeking Public Input

The Onward Chickasha project, an ongoing community involvement program to guide officials over the next 20 years, continues seeking public comment to assist with the effort. The latest phase concerns a Future Land Use Map which includes results from a previous community survey to develop three scenarios.  Laura Bergey with Guernsey and Associates is the project manager.

 

 

The maps can be viewed on-line at the website www.onwardchickasha.org and users can post their opinions about them to help create a final proposal that will be considered later by the city council, the planning commission and other city officials. The maps can also be seen at Chickasha City Hall.

 

Filing Period For Chix City Council Begins Soon

The filing period for the spring Chickasha City Council election is next week. Positions for mayor and one seat in each of the four wards will be decided. There will be a new mayor as Chris Mosley has already announced he will not be running for a fourth term. Mosley has served six years at the post. Vice Mayor Zach Grayson, who serves in Ward 4, has already announced his intention to run for the post.  In addition to Grayson's Ward 4 post, other seats up for election include Kea Ginn in Ward 1, Rick Croslin in Ward 2, and Dr. R.P. Ashanti- Alexander in Ward 3. The filing period is Monday, February 5^th through Wednesday, Feb. 7th at city hall. The election will be held April 2nd.

 

Help Available For Communities to Apply for Federal Grants

Federal officials are encouraging rural communities to apply for grants to assist with infrastructure, energy, and conservation projects. However the application process can be tedious, challenging, and time-consuming. There is a new resource from the Center for Rural Affairs that can help grant writers with their efforts. The Grant Application Guide for Rural Communities is available. Officials say communities that invest in themselves can better keep and attract the people who energize communities and create new businesses. The center plans to host a webinar to walk communities through the guide and answer questions about grant applications. Officials can view and download the guide from the website www.cfra.org Officials will post information about the webinar when details are finalized.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.82 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.87.

Natural gas is $2.08 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,056 and silver is $23.24.

 

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Tuesday, Jan. 30th

 

Police Name Chickasha's Most Dangerous Intersections

Chickasha police have identified the city's most dangerous intersections. The top two on the list are 4th and Grand Avenue and 4th and Choctaw Avenue. Authorities say officers worked 27 accidents at 4th and Grand last year. 23 of the 27 accidents did not involve any injuries. 4th Choctaw had 21 accidents last year and nine did involve injuries. Assistant Police Chief Daimon Alexander says the best way to avoid accidents is by paying attention to what's happening around you.

 

              

 

Alexander says nearly half of all intersection crashes are caused by inattentive drivers and pedestrians. He encourages drivers to stop when a traffic light turns yellow (instead of trying to beat the light) and to keep a safe distance between them and the vehicle in front of them. He recommends that pedestrians only use crosswalks and to not jay-walk. Other dangerous intersections include 4th and Minnesota, 1st and Grand, 16th and Grand, 17th and Iowa, and 8th and Missouri.

 

$1 Million Bond Set for Child Sex Crimes Suspect

A Blanchard man charged with a dozen child sex crimes was in a Grady County courtroom yesterday. 24-year old James Dalton Horne had his initial appearance on charges which include rape of a child under 14, lewd acts to a child under 12, and child sexual abuse.  A judge set his bond at $1 million. Horne is to announce is attorney Feb. 8th with a preliminary hearing conference scheduled for Feb. 14th. Horne was booked into the Grady County Jail last Friday. He was transferred from the McCurtain County jail in southeastern Oklahoma where reports say he was serving a sentence for assaulting a police officer.

 

County Stop Sign Vandals Sought

Thousands of dollars in damage to stop signs in rural Grady County have authorities seeking information about the individuals responsible for the vandalism. District 3 County Commissioner Gary Bray said it’s been going on for the last year with many stop signs being shot or run over by vehicles. A photo of one stop sign shows about 30 bullet holes in it. Bray said the hardest hit areas have been near and south of Lake Burtschi and in the Alex area. Grady County Crimestoppers is offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of those responsible. Call the Crimestoppers hot-line at 405-224TIPS and all information is kept confidential.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.78 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.40.

Natural gas is $2.49 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,053 and silver is $23.22.

 

Obituary

Carolyn Hunter

Funeral service for Carolyn Hunter, 87, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31st at First Christian Church. She was a teacher, a Girl Scout leader. and member of the Junior Social Workers where she was part of the group's first Spaghetti Day fundraiser. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grady County Historical Society.

 

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Monday, Jan. 29th

 

Caddo County Authorities Seek Arson Suspect

A Cyril man is wanted for allegedly setting fires along some railroad tracks.  An arrest warrant was issued last Friday for 31-year old Nickolas Blaine Toahty who also goes by Nickolas Klinekole. The warrant was issued at the request of the Cyril Police Department. Toahty is wanted for two felony counts of third degree arson and misdemeanor counts of obstruction and drug charges. The Lawton Constitution reports that Toahty escaped from police custody and disappeared on to Tribal trust land. On-line court records show that in 2021, Toahty pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of threatening violence and petty larceny. In 2011 he pleaded guilty to felony burglary.

 

Chickasha Storm Siren Testing Underway

For the last several weeks the City of Chickasha has been testing its storm sirens. Every Wednesday at noon (when weather allows) the sirens blare for about three minutes. Next week, the city will be doing more extensive testing and some maintenance work on the alarm system. Officials say on Wednesday, Feb. 7th they plan to sound the sirens for an extended period of time - between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Officials say they will delay that work if there is stormy weather forecast for that day.

 

Citizens Law Enforcement Academy set in Caddo County

Caddo County residents will have an opportunity to get an inside look at the law enforcement agencies that serve the area. A Citizens Police Academy will be offered this spring. It will include the Anadarko Police Department, Caddo County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services. It will include information on criminal, accident, and DUI investigations, use of force, Internet safety, and SWAT teams. The eight-week academy will be held at the Caddo County OSU Extension Office every Thursday beginning March 14th through May 2nd and will run three hours each week. Applications will be accepted through March 8th. For information contact Anadarko Police Chief Eric Harlan.

 

Mentors Sought for Chix Public School Foundation Events

The Chickasha Public School Foundation is looking for a few mentors for its annual program for 5th graders in Chickasha schools. Foundation Director Gab Shepard says each February the Foundation holds a Diamonds in the Rough program for girls and a Gentlemen of Distinction program for boys. The program was created to encourage students with their goals and education plans, help them see their potential, and motivate them to do their best. The program includes a catered lunch shared between mentors and students, an etiquette lesson, and a special guest speaker. The Diamonds in the Rough program will be Tuesday, February 6th and the Gentlemen of Distinction program will be Tuesday, 27^th and both will be at the USAO ballroom. For information contact Shepard through the Chickasha schools administration office.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.01 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.55.

Natural gas is $2.17 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,045 and silver is $23.09.

 

Obituary

Marilyn Darnell

Funeral service for Marilyn Darnell, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31st at College Heights Baptist Church. She was an elementary school teacher for nearly 40 years. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.