Saturday, March 23rd

 

Active Shooter Drill Held at Grady Memorial Hospital

First responders from a number of agencies were part of an active shooter drill at Grady Memorial Hospital yesterday. Officials with the Department of Public Safety said this was the first ever such drill at a hospital and it could be used as a model for other medical facilities. A previous exercise was held a few weeks ago at the hospital, and yesterday was the culmination of several days of hands-on training and classroom work to help officials should they have to respond to such a situation. The drill included all the hospital staff as well as Chickasha police, fire, and emergency management, Grady County sheriff's deputies and emergency management, and state troopers. A trooper told one media outlet that the number one thing that breaks down during critical incidents is communication. He said that five or six departments that will respond have different radio channels and that they have to work through those battles to communicate and coordinate effectively to remove everybody from the situation.

 

Juvenile Steals Golf Cart; Leads Police on 'Pursuit'

You may have seen the Facebook video of Chickasha police officers pursuing a golf cart through a Chickasha neighborhood. Chickasha police tell us that a juvenile stole the cart from the Chickasha Golf and Country Club Thursday. Authorities say that officers spotted the golf cart about a mile away at 29th and Country Club Road. The Facebook video shows four Chickasha police cars in pursuit of the golf cart. Police say it was a short pursuit and that officers arrested the driver. Among the numerous comments on the Facebook thread was one that said the golf cart went through her front and back yards, another that indicated the pursuit lasted about 30 minutes, and one that said the chase came to an end at 20th and Florida Avenue.

 

Lindsay Teens Hurt in ATV Crash with Pickup

A couple of Lindsay teenagers were injured when the ATV they were riding in ran a stop stop sign and was hit by a pickup. The accident happened just after noon Friday on State Highway 74 north of Elmore City in Garvin County. The highway patrol reports that both teens were taken to an Oklahoma City hospital in a private vehicle. A 14-year old girl who was a passenger was admitted with head, trunk, and internal injuries.  The 14-year old boy driving the ATV was treated and released. The highway patrol does not identify juveniles injured in accidents. Three Duncan residents in the pickup including an 8-year old girl were not hurt.

 

Okla Corp Comm Member Elected to Power Pool Committee Post

A member of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission has been elected to an office within the Southwest Power Pool, a group that oversees power distribution in Oklahoma and several Midwestern states. The website OK Energy Today reports that Todd Hiett will serve as vice president of the Regional State Committee of the power pool...which includes one utility commissioner from each of the 14 states that make up the pool which stretches from Texas to Montana. Oklahoma accounts for about 25 percent of the amount of electricity consumed in the power pool region. The website also reports that Hiett has also accepted an invitation to join the Washington Action Program of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners. The group formulates and launches actions when proposed by federal officials or when existing policies impact those areas.

 

Talk Show Topic

The Ward One Chickasha City Council candidates are on the KOOL Konversation. Current councilwoman Kea Ginn and candidate David Lucas will discuss their reasons for running. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

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Friday, March 22nd

 

Ban on Selling Tobacco Products Near Children's Areas

to be Considered by Chix Planning Commission, Council

A proposal to ban the sale of tobacco and e-cigarette products near Chickasha schools, parks, and playgrounds will be discussed by City of Chickasha officials next week. At a special meeting next Tuesday the Planning Commission will hold a public hearing to consider a petition asking the city to amend a city ordinance to ban the sale of those products within 300 feet of schools, parks, and playgrounds or anywhere people 21-and-under gather. Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Winzenreid will present information during the Planning Commission meeting which will be held at 4 o'clock next Tuesday afternoon at city hall.  That evening, the city council will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. to consider the planning commission's recommendation.

 

Facebook Video Show Chix Police in 'Pursuit' of Golf Cart

RANCH News is working to get information about a video on Facebook that shows several Chickasha police vehicles pursuing two individuals on a golf cart in a Chickasha neighborhood. We have reached out to Chickasha police for information but have not heard back from them.

 

Missing Duncan Man Seen; Kasey Alert Remains in Effect

A missing Duncan man who is the subject of a Kasey Alert has been seen in Texas. Authorities are looking for 62-year old Jerry Buono, who left Duncan more than two weeks ago and said he was walking to a homestead in Louisiana. The Alert was issued because Buono is considered to be at-risk due to health issues. He left without taking his medications. The group Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) said that Buono had been seen in Alvord and in Rhome, Texas and that he told authorities he was on his way to see family in Louisiana. The Kasey Alert is still in effect. Anyone with information about Buono is asked to contact MMIW or the  Duncan Police Department.

 

Auto Break-in Suspect Arrested After Hitting Horn on Vehicle

A suspected thief caught breaking into a car in Anadarko is arrested after she honks the horn of the vehicle she was rifling through. 19-year Gabriella Rodriguez was taken into custody on burglary and other complaints after the incident. KSWO-TV reports that Rodriguez was caught red-handed in the victim's car with a blanket full of items and a wallet that didn't belong to her.  On-line court records say Rodriguez was charged with burglary, obstructing an officer and public intoxication. Records indicate she waived her right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded guilty. A judge gave her a 5-year deferred sentence as a youthful offender and also ordered her to pay nearly $1,000 in fines and fees.

 

Friends of Chix Library Seek Book Donations for Spring Sale

The Friends of the Chickasha Library are getting ready for their annual spring book sale. They are asking residents who are doing their spring cleaning to donate books they may have. They are looking for books for children and teens, adult fiction, non-fiction books and reference materials. They also welcome contributions of DVDs and Books on CD however they are not accepting cassette tapes nor video cassettes for the sale. If you have several sacks or boxes of books, call the library ahead of time and staff will help in getting the materials out of your vehicle. The spring book sale will be the week of April 15th. Contact the library by calling 405-222-6075.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.07 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.78.

Natural gas is $1.68 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,189 and silver is $24.77.

 

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Thursday, March 21st

 

Former Nursing Home Workers Charged with Neglect

Authorities are looking for two former nursing home employees who are charged with neglect. The Oklahoma Attorney General's office has filed felony charges against Kimberly Ann Eaglin and Shelly Nichole Eaglin, both of whom have Marlow addresses on court documents. Shelly is also charged with forgery and allegedly using a computer to try and cover up the neglect. KSWO-TV reports that the two were working at Shanoan Springs Nursing Home when they failed to check on a resident during their entire six-hour shift. The attorney general alleges the neglect led to injuries to the resident. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit at the Department of Health alerted authorities that Shelly Eaglin entered false information into its database indicating that they did their routine checks even though they admitted to supervisors that they did not.

 

Crash Claims Life of Second Victim

A second person has died as a result of injuries sustained in a crash between a semi and an SUV earlier this month. 80-year old Joey Tannehill of Chickasha recently succumbed to his injuries. Tannehill and his wife Wanda were both hospitalized for several days after the accident which happened on U.S. Highway 81 south of Pocasset on Friday, March 8th. Wanda passed away just a few days before her husband. It was raining at the time of the crash.

 

Life Choices Schedules Client Appreciation Day

A non-profit group that helps expectant mothers will have a client appreciation day next week. Life Choices of Chickasha offers free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, and free weekly classes. Director Kathie Talley-

 

              

 

 

Life Choices also helps moms and fathers after the baby is born. The center is funded entirely by donations and receives no government monies. The weekly classes last about 45 minutes. Clients can earn Baby Bucks to help them purchase diapers and other baby items. After finishing the classes local churches provide free baby cribs and car safety seats. The public is invited to Monday's event which will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Life Choices which is at 1201 West Choctaw Ave.

 

Elvis Tribute Concert Tonight

An Elvis Presley tribute artist will be performing in Chickasha tonight. Joseph Hall brings his Rock and Remember tribute to the Washita Theatre. Hall was a top 10 finisher on America's Got Talent in 2008 and has been performing his tribute around the country since 2006. He talks about his favorite Elvis segment-

 

              

 

 

The Elvis Rock and Remember tribute show is at 7:00 p.m. tonight at the Washita Theatre. Tickets will be available at the door.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.68 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.95.

Natural gas is $1.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,233 and silver is $25.71.

 

Obituaries

Joey Tannehill

A memorial service for Joey Tannehill, 80, of Chickasha will be held at a later date. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Donald Shatwell

A graveside service for Donald Shatwell, 82, of Tuttle will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 22nd at Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

Jason Pruner

 A memorial service for Jason Pruner, 49, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 23^rd at the Salvation Army Church. He was the chief executive officer of Creative IT Solutions and Indigenous Technologies. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Helen Andrews

A memorial service for Helen Andrews, 75, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 23rd at Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, March 20th

 

Second Suspect Arrested in Connection with Anadarko Homicide

Two people are now accused of the shooting death of an Anadarko man that occurred back in December. Both are jailed in connection with the death of D'angelo Pollard. Investigators recently arrested 20-year old Esco Peteet in connection with Pollard's death. Prosecutors have filed a first-degree murder charge and a misdemeanor charge of drug possession against Peteet. His bond has been denied and a preliminary hearing conference is set for May 23rd. Devantae Winters is the other suspect arrested in connection with Pollard’s death and his preliminary hearing conference is set for May 10th.

 

Pursuit Suspect Faces Lengthy Prison Sentence if Convicted

A Chickasha man with a criminal history could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted of his most recent alleged crime. 40-year old Benjamin Fisher is charged with felony eluding in Caddo County District Court. KSWO-TV cites Caddo County court records indicating that sheriff’s deputies tried to make a traffic stop on Fisher for allegedly swerving all over the roadway on U.S. Highway 277 near Cyril. Fisher is alleged to have run through several stop signs and stopped in a yard where he was arrested. Authorities also accused Fisher of drinking and driving but he refused a field sobriety test. Fisher has numerous previous convictions in both Grady and Caddo counties.

 

State Panel to Get Update on Rural Broadband Projects

Officials working to get high-speed Internet service into rural areas of the state will give an update on their efforts today. The Oklahoma Broadband Expansion Council will meet in Oklahoma City to get a progress report on the state's use of $374 million in federal ARPA funds for the expansion of broadband service. The latest reports are expected to focus on a recent decision to authorize projects in 57 counties including Grady, Caddo, Stephens, and Garvin counties. More than 140 projects were approved which would provide broadband to about 25 percent of the rural areas that don't currently have that service.

 

Prescribed Burn Association to Meet Next Week

Agriculture producers interested in learning about having controlled burns can get information in an upcoming meeting. The Caddo and Grady County Prescribed Burn Association will be holding its first meeting of the year. The meeting will be held next Tuesday, March 26^th at 6:30 p.m. at the Grady County OSU Extension Office in Chickasha. Any questions before the meeting can be directed to Don West by calling 405-638-2297 or e-mail: dwests@tdsd.net

 

4Her Says Hard-Working Bees Could Use Help

Spring is finally here and it won't be long before we start seeing bees in search of pollen to make honey. Georgia Nelson is a Grady County 4Her who - along with her dad – is a beekeeper. Nelson says that bees must collect nectar from two million flowers in order to make just one pound of honey and that one bee only makes one-tenth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. Nelson tells how to help bees with their mission-

              

 

She also says that while dandelions and the purple-flowered henbit are considered weeds they are great food sources for bees and other pollinators.

 

Ninnekah Holds Community Blood Drive Today

A Ninnekah community blood drive will be held today. The Ninnekah First Baptist Church is teaming up with the Oklahoma Blood Institute for a Pot O' Gold blood drive. All donors will get their names put in a drawing to win a $100 or $200 gift card. The blood drive will be held at the Ninnekah High School cafeteria from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and no appointment is needed. For information on upcoming blood drives in the area visit the blood institute's website: www.obi.org

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $83.47 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $87.38.

Natural gas is $1.74 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,178 and silver is $25.02.

 

Obituaries

Carol Skaggs

No service will be held for Carol Skaggs, 84, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Brenda Newberry

A private memorial service will be held for Brenda Newberry, 71, of Edmond and formerly of Chickasha. She worked for title and escrow companies. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, March 19th

 

New Sales Tax Rate Brings Added Funds to Chickasha;

Extra Money to Pay for City's New Water Treatment Plant

A slight increase in the City of Chickasha’s sales tax rate that began in January helped to bring in about $100,000 of additional sales tax revenue in its first full month of being in place. The city received just under $1.3 million in sales tax revenue from the State Tax Commission this month. It’s from sales taxes paid on retail purchases made in the last half of January and estimated sales in the first half of February. The $1.3 million is about 19 percent or $210,000 more than a year ago. Voters approved a ½-penny increase in the city’s sales tax with some of the proceeds to pay for the construction of a new $70 million water treatment plant. There was a slight decrease in use tax revenue paid on Internet purchases. It was down 4 ½ percent to $124,000. The sales tax revenue represents more than $30 million in consumer spending at Chickasha retail outlets.

Grady County Numbers Down

Consumer spending throughout Grady County during that same time was down about 6.6 percent to just under $73 million. The county received $547,000 in sales tax revenue with funds going to the Grady County Fairgrounds, Grady Memorial Hospital, fire departments, and senior nutrition centers.

 

Garland Terry Announces County Commissioner Candidacy

A long-time businessman and rancher has announced his candidacy for Grady county commissioner. Garland Terry says he'll seek the District 2 Commissioner's post. Terry is a lifelong resident of Grady County and his family has been in the area for six generations. Terry graduated from Oklahoma State University and has a background in agriculture, health care, and construction. Terry says he'll be filing as a Republican but pledges to be a commissioner for all the people. He said he believes that a resident's political party affiliation should not be considered in deciding what road to repair or maintain - or where public funds will be spent. Terry will be challenging current District 2 commissioner Kirk Painter who is running for re-election. The filing period will be April 3rd through 5th.

 

Veteran Educator Alton Rollins Passes Away

Longtime Grady County educator Alton Rollins has died. Rollins spent time as a school administrator at Chickasha, Friend, Alex, and Cheyenne schools and taught at Tuttle schools early in his career. He also coached football, basketball and track. In recent years he drove a school bus for Chickasha schools. Rollins was 69 when he passed away yesterday. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, March 21st at Southern Oaks Church of Christ. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

State Panel Praises USAO, First National Bank Partnership

The State Regents for Higher Education have recognized a decades-long partnership between USAO and the First National Bank and Trust. The institutions have demonstrated a relationship for more than 100 years. The collaboration was noted at the regents’ recent Business Partnership Excellence Awards. First National provides real-world experiences for students through internship programs and nearly a dozen USAO graduates are now bank officers. USAO president Kayla Hale said the relationship proves how working together plays a vital role in expanding the economic opportunities and quality of life in the community. First National Executive Vice president Laurie Elzo says USAO is a vital player in business, education, arts and entertainment, and athletic competition and that the bank supports the university's mission.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $82.27 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $86.89.

Natural gas is $1.70 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,177 and silver is $25.09.

 

Obituary

Ray Kettler

A graveside service for Ray Kettler, 76, of Tuttle will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 21st at Fairview Cemetery in Tuttle. He was a U.S. Army veteran and an accomplished carpenter working for several home building companies and in the woodworking department at Hobby Lobby. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home of Tuttle.

 

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Monday, March 18th

 

One Dead, Two Hospitalized after Fatal Crash

One person died and two others were hospitalized following a traffic accident at the Tabler Y late Friday. The highway patrol is still investigating the accident which occurred at 11:56 p.m. at the junction of U.S. Highway 62 and State Highway 39. No details of the crash were released other than the accident involved a pick-up and a car. Killed in the crash was 67-year old Jeffrey Crager of Jewett, Texas. The driver of the truck identified as 62-year old Kitty Bailey also of Jewett was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital where she was last in critical condition. The driver of the car identified as 50-year old Samuel Turner of Chickasha was taken to Grady Memorial Hospital where he was last in fair condition. The trooper investigating the accident reported that seat belts were being used in both vehicles.

 

Part of West Chickasha will be Without Water Tuesday

Water line work associated with the U.S. Highway 81 bypass of Chickasha will leave a portion of the city without water service tomorrow. The neighborhood west of 29th and Frisco Avenue will be impacted by the outage. The area is from 29th Street west to CS 2810 and north to about U.S. Highway 62. The outage will begin at 8:00 a.m. and is expected to last all day.

 

Learning Center to Begin Literacy Program

A program to help individuals who never learned to read or write will be starting soon. The Chickasha Adult Learning Center will be offering free literacy programs. Lisa Johnson is the director of the learning center.

 

              

 

 

The program will begin Wednesday, March 27^th and will be held every Wednesday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. It's open to anyone 16-years and older. The center is closed for Spring Break this week but individuals who would like more information can call 405-222-6562 and leave a message.

 

Chix Company Wins 'Build Oklahoma' Awards

A Chickasha firm has received a couple of lofty awards. Willowbrook Construction was presented with two Build Oklahoma Awards by the Associated General Contractors of Oklahoma. The awards were presented at the AGC's Builders Bash Awards banquet in Tulsa earlier this month. The company was recognized for its work on The Muse - a five-story, 300-unit multi-family development in Oklahoma City which won in the $20 million to $50 million Commercial category. They were also recognized for a project at Oklahoma State University - an 85,000 sq. ft. renovation for Engineering South which was in the $20 million to $50 million Education category.

 

Ag Producers to Hear from Beef Quality Network Official

Grady County agriculture producers meet tomorrow morning and the guest speaker will be Paul Vining who is the program coordinator for the Oklahoma Quality Beef Network. The program will get underway at 7:00 a.m. at the Grady County OSU Extension Office.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.05 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.34.

Natural gas is $1.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,159 and silver is $25.30.

 

Obituaries

Donna Ladd

Funeral service for Donna Ladd, 72, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 19th at Sevier Funeral Home.

Billy Nelson

Funeral service for Billy Nelson, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20th at Bible Baptist Church. He served in the Marines and the Marine reserves, and he and his brother Don started the Chickasha Sod and Grass Farm. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Life Christian Church building fund.

Maria Lasseter

Funeral service for Maria Lasseter, 77, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 22nd at Sevier Funeral Home. She owned and operated Mert's Bridal Shop.

 

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Saturday, March 16th

 

Biological Mother of Athena Brownfield Appears in Court

Several legal proceedings regarding the death of Athena Brownfield took place in an Anadarko courtroom this week. On Wednesday, a murder trial was scheduled Sept. 23rd for Alysia Adams who pleaded not guilty to murder in connection with Athena's death. Yesterday, Athena's biological mother pleaded not guilty to child neglect charges. Jasmin Brownfield is facing two such charges for alleged mistreatment of Athena and Athena's five-year old sister. Investigators say that Jasmin told them that she and the children's biological father did not believe they were adequate caregivers and left the children with Alysia and Ivon Adams in 2021.  It's alleged that Jasmin didn't check on the girls, provide any child support, nor inform anyone about any custody changes. Jasmin Brownfield's trial has also been scheduled to start Sept. 23rd.

 

Kasey Alert Issued for Missing Duncan Man

A Duncan man is missing and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has issued a Kasey Alert asking for assistance in finding him. 62-year old Jerry Wayne Buono was last seen the morning of Thursday, March 7^th and was reportedly walking to a family homestead in Louisiana. A Kasey Alert is similar to a Silver Alert for missing seniors and an Amber Alert for missing children. Due to a medical issue, Buono's case is considered urgent. He is a citizen of the Comanche Nation, 6' 2" tall, weighs about 350 pounds, with long, black hair, brown eyes and a slight beard and moustache. He was last seen wearing a dark gray jacket, blue jeans, and white shoes. Among the agencies assisting with the search for Buono are the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the Duncan Police Department. Anyone with information is asked to reach out to MMIW, Duncan police, or the highway patrol.

 

Report Shows Energy Industry's Impact on State Economy

A new report indicates the state's oil and gas industry was responsible for 22 percent of the state's economic activity in 2023. The website OK Energy Today cites the report from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board. The report shows oil and gas contributed more than $55 billion to the state's Gross Domestic Product last year and that the industry contributed a record of nearly $3 billion in total taxes. Oil and natural gas provided more than $145 million to school districts and $177 million to county roads and bridges. The industry employs more than 200,000 workers with $31 billion in household earnings.

 

Final Day of Pre-War Swap Meet Underway

The search is on for hard-to-find parts for antique car enthusiasts. The 34th annual pre-war swap meet continues today at the Grady County Fairgrounds. The event is limited to transportation-related items dating before World War II and the first 50-years of the automobile which was first produced in 1895. There are even fully restored vehicles available. The swap meet is open to the public and today is the final day of the event.

 

Cars and Coffee at the Leg This Morning

Another auto-related event is underway this morning. The monthly Cars and Coffee at the Leg features some of the 'newer' classics, including muscle cars, custom builts, pick-ups, motorcycles, ATVs, and Utes. Cars and Coffee at the Leg is a free event held the third Saturday of every month, downtown Chickasha at the leg lamp from 8 to 11 a.m. There's free coffee and donuts while they last.

 

Talk Show Topic

Ward Two Chickasha City Council candidates Daniel Terry and Charlie Burruss are guests on the KOOL Konversation. Find a link to the program under the Community tab on this website.

 

Obituaries

Wanda Tannehill

Funeral service for Wanda Tannehill, 83, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, March 18th at Ferguson Funeral Home. While growing up she helped her mother operate a nursing home, and she also worked at the Chickasha Mattress Factory, Hermetic Switch, and Baggett's Machine Shop.

Donna Ladd

Funeral service for Donna Ladd, 72, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 19th at Sevier Funeral Home.

Maria Lasseter

Funeral service for Maria Lasseter, 77, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 22nd at Sevier Funeral Home. She owned and operated Mert's Bridal Shop.

 

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Friday, March 15th

 

Two People Injured in Pickup Rollover

Two people were hospitalized after a pick-up ran off the road and overturned near Minco. The crash happened just before 9:00 p.m. Thursday about four miles west of Minco on State Highway 152. A passenger, 41-year old Benjamin West of Yukon suffered a head injury, and the un-named 16-year old girl who was driving suffered head, arm and leg injuries. Both were admitted in stable condition. The highway patrol reports that the teen-aged driver fell asleep at the wheel. Both occupants were pinned inside the truck for about 20 minutes before being freed by the Minco fire department.

 

Water Line Work on Highway 81 Bypass Project

to Create Water Outage For One Area Next Week

An area west of Chickasha that has city water service will be without water on day next week. Contractors will be tying in water lines associated with the U.S. Highway 81 bypass project. City officials say the area affected is along Frisco Ave. from 29th Street west to CS 2810 - and from just south of U.S. U.S. Highway 62 to just south of Frisco. The work will take place Tueday, March 19th beginning at 8:00 a.m. and will take most of the day. Officials anticipate that the outage will impact homes in the area but wanted to make businesses aware as well. The city has also posted information on its website: www.chickasha.org where there is a link at the top of the home page which has a photo of the area that will be affected.

 

County Firefighters Urge Residents to Register Storm Shelters

Officials with the Grady County Fire Department are encouraging property owners who have storm shelters and safe rooms to register them with the county. Officials say it would help first responders to find you if are trapped inside following severe weather. The registration is free. Go to the website: www.gradycountyok.com  and scroll down to find the Register Safe Room link. It asks for your address, how many people may use it, and a specific description of where it is located. You can even provide a photo, and the latitude and longitude. Officials say this is property owners outside the Chickasha city limits.

Naples Fire Department community appreciation day set

Another Grady County volunteer fire department will host a community appreciation event soon. The Naples Fire Department will have a fish fry on Sunday, April 7th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They will have fish, chicken strips, French fries, hush puppies and dessert. There will also be a silent auction.

 

'Darko Police to Dispose of Found, Unclaimed Property

The Anadarko Police Department will soon be disposing found or unclaimed property, and even contraband items that the department has collected over the last several months. Police Chief Eric Harlan said depending on the value, the property will either be destroyed or sold using an on-line auction system. The items have been collected over the last 120 days. Anyone with questions can send an e-mail to: drichardson@cityofanadarko.org

 

'Passion Play' Set for Holy City of the Wichitas

The Holy City of the Wichitas has been preparing for its annual Easter Pageant. This will be the 99th year for the event said to be the longest running Passion Play which tells the life story of Jesus Christ. A dress rehearsal is scheduled for tomorrow night at 8:30 p.m. and organizers are extending an invitation to those with disabilities to attend. Performances will be held Saturday, March 23rd and Saturday, March 30th also at 8:30 p.m. The Holy City of the Wichitas is just north of Lawton near the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $81.26 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $85.42.

Natural gas is $1.74 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,174 and silver if $25.29.

 

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Thursday, March 14th

 

Murder Trial Date Set for Alysia Adams

Caretaker Alysia Adams pleaded not guilty to a murder charge in Caddo County District Court in Anadarko yesterday. Adams was one of the individuals responsible for the welfare of 4-year old Athena Brownfield in 2022. The Cyril four-year old was reported missing in January of that year and her body found buried near Agawam a few days later. District Judge Kory Kirkland set the case on a felony disposition docket August 14th and a trial date Sept. 23rd. Adams is being held in the Grady County Jail in Chickasha. She has been held there after allegedly being intimate with a Caddo County Jail staff member. Adams’ husband Ivon is scheduled to be arraigned on a murder charge next month.

 

Victims Injured in Separate Crashes with Semis Perish

Two people who had been hospitalized after being hurt in separate traffic accidents involving semis have died. The highway patrol reports that Wanda Tannehill of Chickasha and Mindy Cates of Cyril passed away from injuries as a result of the accidents. Tannehill was hurt in an accident south of Pocasset Friday, March 8th. Cates was injured in a crash that happened south of Cyril the night of Monday, March 4th.

 

Motorcycle Crash Sends Driver to Hospital

A motorcycle rider was seriously injured in weekend crash near the Chickasha sports complex. 39-year old Levi Eden of Norman was airlifted to an Oklahoma City hospital following the accident that happened Saturday night. Sources say he was last in intensive care. Police say that Eden was traveling at an unsafe speed and ran off the roadway. He was not wearing a helmet.

 

Meet-Greet with Chix City Council Candidates is Tonight

Chickasha residents can talk to all the candidates running for city council in a meet-and-greet format tonight. The Chickasha Lions Club is hosting the informal event at the Canadian Valley Technology Center. All candidates are expected to be on hand including Zach Grayson who ran unopposed for Mayor; Ward One candidates Kia Ginn and David Lucas; Ward Two candidates Daniel Terry and Charlie Burruss; Ward Three candidate Erica Alexander, who ran unopposed; and Ward Four candidates John Smith, Isaac DeLeon, and Eric Anderson. The meet-and-greet will run from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The city council election is Tuesday, April 2^nd.

 

Church Hits Big Number in Food Bank Effort

A Chickasha church reaches a big milestone in a years-long effort to help hungry families in the region. Southern Oaks Church of Christ has a free food pantry every Thursday evening. The program is nearly 20 years old and for about the last 10 years they've been getting semi-truck loads of food twice a month from the Regional Food Bank. Coordinator David Boiles says this week's delivery hit the 2 million pound mark. The trucks deliver 6,000 pounds or more of food each trip. Boiles says they serve much of Grady County and even a couple of Caddo County communities.

 

              

 

 

Boiles says families can get food once a month and they provide food to 75 or more families each week. Patrons do have to fill out a short form once a year. The pantry is in the 100 block of South 5th Street and is open Thursday evenings from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  Boiles says there is also a free clothing closet next door that is open on Tuesday of each week.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.72 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $84.03.

Natural gas is $1.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,174 and silver is $25.24.

 

Obituaries

Margaret Walker

Funeral service for Margaret Walker, 76, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, March 16^th at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a nurse and also managed the Cement Senior Citizens Center. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Starri Briscoe

A graveside service for Starri Briscoe, 62, formerly of Chickasha was held at the Ninnekah Cemetery Tuesday, March 12th.  She was an LPN and worked at the veteran's hospital. Arrangements were with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, March 13th

 

Woman Accused of Child's Death to be in Court Today

A woman charged with murder in connection with the death of a child in her care is due in court today. Alysia Adams is to be arraigned on a murder charge in Caddo County District Court. Adams is one of two people authorities say is responsible for the death of four-year old Athena Brownfield...the Cyril girl first reported missing in January of 2022 and whose body was found buried in the Agawam about two weeks later. Adams was initially charged with child neglect, but prosecutors filed a murder charge against her earlier this year. Today will be the first day that Adams will formally hear about the murder charge. Adams has been in jail since being arrested in connection with Athena's death. Her husband, Ivon Adams is also charged with murder. He arraignment will be held next month.

 

Apprenticeships May Assist with Skilled-Labor Shortage

An effort to help companies fill skill gaps in Oklahoma's labor force will soon get underway. Several state agencies and the Canadian Valley Technology Center (CV Tech) will hold a program for companies to create registered apprenticeships. The State Department of Commerce; the South Central Oklahoma Workforce Board; and Oklahoma Works will have information. Officials say apprenticeships allows individuals to both receive training and work at the same time, and allows employers to 'grow their own' employees. The program will be Wednesday, April 17th from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at CV Tech. It's for community leaders and economic development and workforce development professionals. To register, contact Erin Glass by e-mail: erin@scworkforceboard.org

 

USAO Names New Chief Financial Officer

USAO has a new chief financial officer. Nick Hathaway was recently named Vice President of Business and Finance. A university press release says Hathaway is the founder and CEO of Brio Data Group and pioneered workforce engagement through cutting-edge data analytics and artificial intelligence. He previously served as executive vice president at OU and as special assistant to president. Hathaway also spent time as a press secretary in the U.S. Senate. He currently serves as a board member for the Oklahoma City National Memorial. USAO President Kayla Hale said Hathaway's experience, visionary leadership, and commitment to innovation align perfectly with USAO's mission.

 

Tattoo Artists Earn Recognition

Several of Chickasha's premier tattoo artists brought home some top honors from the Homeward Bound Tattoo Expo in Tulsa this past weekend. From Downtown Tattoo, Garrett Hall had three first place and three second place awards and was named Best in Show; Greg Martinez was third in the dark-horror category; Lisa Boyd was third in the floral category; and Jayden Wahsabaugh brought home two first place and one third place award.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.56 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.92.

Natural gas is $1.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,163 and silver is $24.45.

 

Obituaries

Phyllis Russell

Funeral service for Phyllis Russell, 90, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 16th at the Verden Baptist Church. She ran the Tiger's Den in Verden for many years.  Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Aletha Terry

Funeral service for Aletha Terry of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 18th at Middleberg Baptist Church. She worked as a telephone operator, sold shoes at Williams Shoes and worked for State Farm insurance agents in Chickasha and Lindsay. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, March 12th

 

Active-Shooter Drill Set for Grady Memorial Hospital

Multiple law enforcement groups will converge on Grady Memorial Hospital next week to test their response to an active shooter situation. In a press release from the Department of Public Safety officials say the training is crucial for enhancing the safety of the state's health care facilities. It's part of what's called the Active Threat Integrated Response Course for hospitals. The drill is included in a 24-hour course that takes place over several days which combines lectures and hands-on training that expose participants to realistic scenarios. This will be the first such drill at a hospital for the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The exercise will be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 22nd and will include all employees at the hospital, The Grady County Sheriff's Office, Grady County Emergency Management, Chickasha police and fire, and the Department of Homeland Security. Residents in the area may hear simulated gun fire and several helicopters will be in the air. Chickasha High School which is nearby will not be in session as it will be Spring Break. Officials say this exercise will be used as a model for similar drills across the state.

 

Bill Limiting Foreign Investment in U.S. Farmland Signed into Law

Third District Oklahoma Congressman Frank Lucas (R-Cheyenne) has had his Agricultural Risk Review Act signed in to law. The website OK Energy Today reports President Biden recently signed HR 3378 which protects U.S. farmland from foreign ownership especially Communist China. Lucas said with an increasing amount of potentially hostile foreign investment in U.S. farmland, protecting America's agriculture industry becomes more and more paramount to our national security. The act includes having the U.S. Ag Secretary serve as a permanent member of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States for any transactions related to the purchase of land, bio-technology, or other purchases related to the ag industry.

 

'Bill the Banker' Has Died

Longtime area banker Bill Graves has died. Known as ‘Bill the Banker’ he spent 30 years in the industry. Graves was 87 when he passed away on Sunday. He worked for Chickasha Bank where he served as vice president and senior loan officer with many years at the Cement location. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years, was a deacon and Sunday School director at Ninnekah First Baptist Church, and served with the Chickasha Lions Club. He was also a big OU football and softball fan. Funeral service for Bill Graves will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 15th at the Ninnekah First Baptist Church. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

 

Absentee Ballot Requests Due Soon

Voters who would like absentee ballots mailed to them prior to the upcoming April 2nd elections need to get requests in to their county election board offices soon. There are numerous city and town council elections, school board elections, and special bond issues on ballots throughout the region. The deadline to request absentee ballots is 5:00 p.m. Monday, March 18th. The easiest way to request an absentee ballot is to go to the Oklahoma Election Board website to fill out an application: www.oklahoma.gov/elections

Voters may also visit the election board office in the county where they are  registered to vote to fill out an application.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.93 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.21.

Natural gas is $1.76 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,181 and silver is $24.62.

 

Obituaries

Winnie Janes

Funeral service for Winnie Janes, 93, of Chickasha was held at 10:00 a.m. this morning (Tuesday, March 12^th) at Sevier Funeral Home.

Jimmy Browning

Funeral service for Jimmy Browning, 82, of Amber will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 14th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Army veteran, worked in hardware sales, and raised cattle on the family farm.

Wanda ‘Nadine’ Morris

A graveside memorial service for 90-year old Nadine 'Mimi' Morris of Ninnekah will be held by the family at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, March 16^th at the Ninnekah Cemetery. She worked at the Grady County Courthouse and owned and operated a home day care. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to a church or local charity.

 

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Monday, March 11th

 

Assault Suspect Arrested; Already on Probation for Previous Crimes

A Grady County man already serving probation for convictions of violent crimes was arrested last week for allegedly strangling his mother. 46-year old Chad Tylor Watts of Tuttle was taken into custody after county deputies were called to the home of Watts' parents last Wednesday night. A probable cause affidavit said that Watts becomes violent when he drinks and that he suffers from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The suspect was said to be headed to Oklahoma City. Authorities issued an alert for police there to be on the lookout for him and officials pulled him over on a traffic stop, placed him in custody and he was then taken to the Grady County Jail. Watts has been charged with a felony for domestic assault and battery. He is on probation after a 2021 conviction for assault and battery and a 2022 conviction for animal cruelty. Watts remains in jail on a $200,000 bond.

 

Chix Schools, USAO Consider Concurrent Enrollment

A proposed agreement between Chickasha Public Schools and USAO is being considered for USAO to offer concurrent enrolment and dual-credit opportunities for Chickasha High School students. A memorandum of understanding will be considered by the school board tonight. If approved, students would not be charged tuition or fees to participate in the courses. Students would be responsible for the costs of textbooks and materials. The two schools would work together to minimize any student costs. The proposal calls for courses to be taught either by USAO faculty or qualifying Chickasha school teachers, with Chickasha teachers to receive professional development to ensure the courses meet the standards and rigor expected by both schools. The Chickasha board of education meets at 6'oclock tonight at the school administration building.

 

Anadarko Teacher in the Running For State Teacher of the Year

An Anadarko teacher is one of the nominees to be Oklahoma Teacher of the Year. Laura Powell has been teaching high school English for more than 10 years. She says it’s quite an honor to represent Anadarko schools. The ten finalists will be interviewed over the next several weeks and a winner will be announced in July.

 

Duncan Museum Honors Rush Springs 'Spirit Rider'

There's quite a tribute for a Rush Springs man who now has a statue in his honor at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan. The statue was recently unveiled in honor of Raymond Rust who passed away last year. Rust was an accomplished spirit rider and the statue will allow children to saddle up and even lasso a roping dummy. Rust’s daughters Renee Hoover-Payton and Tammy Filipo say Raymond grew up on a horse and tell KSWO-TV that he loved to rope calves and steers. Their brother Rusty followed his father's passion which included competing as a spirit rider at Oklahoma State University.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.01 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.08.

Natural gas is $1.81 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,186 and silver is $24.56.

 

Obituary

Gwen Cox

Funeral service for Gwen Cox, 95, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 15^th at Epworth Methodist Church. She taught school in Grady and Caddo counties and was a first-grade teacher in Chickasha schools for 25 years.  Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Saturday, March 9th

 

Two Hospitalized After SUV Hits Semi

Two Chickasha residents suffered life-threatening injuries after their SUV  crashed into a semi north of the city yesterday. 80-year old Joey Tannehill and 83-year old Wanda Tannehill were taken to an Oklahoma City hospital and were last in critical condition. It was raining when the accident happened just before 3:00 p.m. Friday on U.S. Highway 81 near CR 1300 about four miles south of Pocasset. The highway patrol reports that the Tannehill vehicle went left of center and hit the semi which was driven by 57-year old Lonnie Coleman of Arapaho. He was not injured. Joey Tannehill was pinned in the SUV for about 20 minutes before being freed by the Chickasha Fire Department. The accident closed the highway for five hours.

 

Congressman Responds to President's Speech

Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) had some harsh criticism for President Joe Biden after the president’s State of the Union Address Thursday night. In a prepared statement, the Cole said the Biden administration has been plagued with crisis after crisis over the last three years yet the president tried to persuade American people into believing the country is stronger today than when he took office. Cole said those who are bearing the brunt of his failed policies know better. Cole said inflation is up nearly 18 percent; over eight million illegal immigrants  have come into the country; and the president’s anti-domestic energy policies have  not been good for the country.

 

'Spring Forward' Into Daylight Savings Time

Oklahoma and much of the country return to Daylight Savings time this weekend. It's time to turn any analog clocks ahead one hour before you go to bed tonight, since the transition is at two o'clock tomorrow morning. Most digital items like computers, cell phones, and watches will automatically make the switch. You'll get one hour less of sleep and it will be darker in the morning with more light in the evening.

 

Talk Show Topic

The three candidates running for Ward 4 Chickasha City Council are this week's guests on the KOOL Konversation. They are Eric Anderson, Isaac DeLeon, and John Smith. There is a podcast of the interviews under the Community tab on this website.

 

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Friday, March 8th

 

Fugitive Back in Custody After Stand-off

A wanted man who reportedly told people he was not going back to jail and threatened to harm anyone who might turn him in - was taken into custody without incident this week. 49-year old William Earl Bitsche was arrested Tuesday south of Lake Chickasha along the Grady and Caddo County Line. According to a post on the Grady County Sheriff's Office Facebook page, officials received information on Monday regarding Bitsche's location. The sheriff's office task force, state troopers, and Caddo County deputies went to the site where Bitsche was reported to be but he wasn't there. Tuesday, officials got another tip about where Bitsche might be which was a few miles south of the previously location and they did find him. Sheriff Gary Boggess said Bitsche was armed and held officials at bay for about an hour but eventually put down the weapon and was taken into custody. Bitsche was wanted for a 2022 arrest for having a firearm after former felony conviction. He remains in the Grady County Jail on a $15,000 bond.

 

Amber Fire, Police Host Community Appreciation Dinner

Tomorrow is a big day in Amber as the police and fire departments combine efforts for the second annual Boots and Badges Community Appreciation Dinner. It’s a way for the agencies to thank area residents for their support. It is free, but patrons are asked to donate funds which can be used for needed equipment and supplies. Police Chief Daniel Fulton said they've receive a lot of support from business in and around the Amber and Chickasha areas.

 

             

 

 

It will be held at the Amber-Pocasset High School Cafeteria from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. tomorrow, and there will be also be a silent auction of several items. There will be a free bounce house and pony rides for the kids and the  fire department and Grady County Sheriff's Office will have vehicles on the display.

 

Chix High School Robotics Team Competes at Regionals

The Chickasha High School robotics team is in Sedalia, Missouri for a regional competition. Team 3931, also known as the Cockadoodle Dominators, are part of the international FIRST Robotics program. FIRST is an acronym meaning For the Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology. Teams across the country have spent the last two months designing and building robots. The machines must meet size and weight specifications. You can watch the competition on-line at: www.thebluealliance.com

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.93 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.96.

Natural gas is $1.82 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,174 and silver is $24.73.

 

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Thursday, March 7th

 

Bill Calls for Digital Communications Between Students

and Teachers to be Shared with Parents

A proposal designed to require all electronic and digital communication between students and school officials to be shared with the student's parents is being considered at the state capital. HB 3958 is authored by State Rep. Sherrie Conley (R- Newcastle). She said the bill is intended to protect students from receiving anything inappropriate from an educator. Conley said it stipulates that school personnel should make reasonable efforts to use school-approved platforms, systems, or applications which allow automatic inclusion of parents or guardians. Conley also said it also protects educators from potential accusations of impropriety. The bill calls for school personnel who reportedly violate the measure to be placed on administrative leave while school officials investigate the complaint. The bill has passed in the house and now heads to the senate for consideration.

 

Man Bitten  by Dog While Walking to Work

A man walking to work is attacked and bitten by a dog. Chickasha police were called out to a home in the 200 block of West Minnesota about 6:00 a.m. Wednesday. Authorities say the medium-sized dog broke free from its chain and charged at the victim. The victim and a second man were able to gain control of the animal until police arrived. The victim was taken to the hospital and was treated for minor injuries and released. Officers sedated the animal to prevent further injuries and minimize the risk of the animal attacking someone else.

 

U.S. Rep Tom Cole Lauds Passage of Bill

4th District Oklahoma Congressman Tom Cole (R-Moore) has scheduled a visit to Chickasha later this month. Cole will be in town on Monday, March 25th to meet with business leaders at the Chamber of Commerce. In his recent media column, Cole discussed the passage of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill out of the House. Cole said the measure promotes economic development, ensures the safety of transportation systems, and cuts spending on programs he says have been recklessly over-funded in recent years. He said the measure also maintains housing assistance for the elderly, disabled, and military veterans; supports homeless assistance programs, which includes initiatives to provide shelter to victims of domestic violence and homeless youth; and provides essential funding to the Federal Aviation Administration to make air space safer and works to minimize flight delays.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.13 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.96.

Natural gas is $1.93 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,165 and silver is $24.40.

 

Obituaries

Peggy Thurston

Funeral service for Peggy Thurston, 85, of Chickasha will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, March 8th at the Alex High School. She was a teacher and school librarian. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Micaela Avila

Funeral mass for Micaela Avila, 63, of Chickasha will be held at 2:00 p.m. Friday, March 8th at Holy Name Catholic Church. She was a Certified Nurse Assistant. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Marieta Raasch

Funeral service for Marieta Raasch, 80, of Cement will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9th at Southern Oaks Church of Christ in Chickasha. Her family operated a dairy farm and she also worked in the banking industry. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, March 6th

 

Trump, Biden Dominate Presidential Primaries

In what was considered a low turnout, just over 400,000 Oklahomans went to the polls in the state's presidential primary elections yesterday. Former President Donald Trump collected more than 82 percent of the more than 310,000 voters in the Republican primary. Nikki Haley was next with only 16 percent of the vote. Trump was the overall winner in all of yesterday’s Super Tuesday primaries across the country causing Haley to end her campaign for the GOP nomination. President Joe Biden won Oklahoma's Democratic primary with 73 percent of the more than 91,000 ballots cast. Chase Oliver picked up just over 61 percent of the vote among the 929 Libertarians casting ballots in that race.

Grady County Results

Trump received nearly 86 percent of the more than 5,500 Republicans who went to the polls. Biden received just over 62 percent of the nearly 900 Democrats who voted; and of the 16 Libertarians in the county, Oliver picked up 12 votes.

 

Veterans' 'Families First' Bill Advances

A bill that would allow military veterans who need long-term care to stay in a  local nursing home instead of a distant state veteran's center was approved by  the State House of Representatives yesterday.  HB 3747 is called the Veterans' Families First bill. It calls for veterans who need long-term care to have the option of staying in a local nursing home - if they are located more than 100 miles from a state center. State Rep. Jim Grego is the author of the bill who said he worked with the State Department of Veterans Affairs on the proposal. He said he wanted to make sure that veterans have the option to remain close to their homes. He said family members should not have to drive a long way to visit their loved ones. The bill will now head to the senate for consideration.

 

USAO Readies for Big Day

USAO is preparing for an onslaught of campus visitors. The sidewalk chalk art festival draws students from dozens of school districts across the state to the university the first Thursday of every April. And there’s a new addition which should bring more high school students to campus that day. It’s designed specifically for high school juniors. They'll get an overview of campus life, an inter-active mock lecture from faculty members, and explore the campus through tours. Both events, along with the annual Droverstock concert will take place on Thursday, April 4th at USAO.

 

Grady County Fairgrounds Seeks Bidders for Paving Project

The Grady County Fairgrounds is accepting sealed bids for a paving project. It calls for asphalt paving and resurfacing over an existing 70’ X 400' asphalt entry and parking area. The fairgrounds Trust will accept sealed bids at the administrative office through 4 p.m. Monday, March 25^th with the bid opening to be held at 5:00 p.m. To acquire bid packets and for further information call 405-224-2031.

 

Caddo County Citzens Police Academy to Start Next Week

Caddo County law enforcement groups have a few openings remaining in their upcoming citizens’ police academy. The Anadarko Police Department, Caddo County Sheriff's Office, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs are jointly hosing the eight-week session. It's for individuals 18 and older, although 16- and 17-year olds may attend with parental approval. The program will run every Thursday night beginning next Thursday, March 14th and run through Thursday, May 2nd. Applications are available through the Anadarko police department.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.15 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.04.

Natural gas is $1.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,135 and silver is $23.93.

 

Obituaries

Diana Stewart

A graveside service for Diana Stewart, 79, of Ninnekah, will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday March 7^th at Fairlawn Cemetery in Chickasha. She worked part-time as a substitute teacher. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Jerry McCorkle

A memorial service for 87-year old Jerry McCorkle of Lindsay will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 7th at the Alex High School gymnasium. He was an evangelist for more than 60 years. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

 

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Tuesday, March 5, 2024

 

Driver Critical After Head-on Crash with Semi

A Caddo County woman is in critical condition after a head-on crash between a semi and an SUV. 42-year old Mindy Cates of Cyril was air-lifted to an Oklahoma City hospital to be treated for head, leg, and trunk internal injuries. The accident happened just after 7:30 p.m. Monday on U.S. Highway 277 south of Cyril. The highway patrol reported that Cates was northbound on the highway and for some reason went left-of-center and collided head-on with the semi. Cates was pinned in her car for about 25 minutes before being freed by the Cyril Fire Department. The driver of the semi, 71-year old Curtis Jackson of Chickasha, was taken by ground ambulance to a Lawton hospital where he was treated and released.

 

Chix Council OK's Sipuel-Fisher Resolution

The Chickasha City Council unanimously approved a resolution to ask the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) to name a bridge on I-44 in honor of Ada Sipuel-Fisher. She was a graduate of Chickasha's Lincoln High School in the 1940s and was the first black student to attend the OU School of Law. The resolution reads in part – ‘whereas she was a pioneering figure in the de-segregation of higher education in Oklahoma; and her commitment to equality and justice continued throughout her life as she became an influential civil rights activist, educator, and community leader; and the city recognizes the importance of preserving and celebrating her legacy for future generations; that a turnpike bridge over the Washita River should be named in her honor.' The OTA will address the resolution in a future meeting.

Tribal group seeks grant for Alzheimer's program

The council heard from Diane Hugar with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, regarding the tribe's Alzheimer's Disease Program Initiative.  The tribe is seeking a grant to provide services to tribal citizens in a 10-county area including Grady, Caddo, Comanche, and Stephens counties.

Panel OKs payment for water distribution work

During the Chickasha Municipal Authority session the panel approved a payment of nearly $65,000 to Marsau Enterprises of Foster, Okla. for water distribution improvements. In the Municipal Airport Authority session the panel approved one of the exhibitions that will be part of the city's annual Wings and Wheels Air Show and Car Show in June. The panel authorized spending $9,500 for the NexGen Eagles which was one of the groups that performed last year.

 

Meet-and-Greet Set for Chix City Council Candidates

Chickasha residents will be able to meet all the candidates running for city council in one location. The Chickasha Lions Club will host the meet-and-greet on Thursday March 14th at the Canadian Valley Technology Center. Lions Club member Joseph Nieto announced the program during last night's city council meeting. He said the candidates will not debate, but rather have materials on display and have casual discussions with residents. The forum will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

 

Oklahomans Vote in Presidential Preferential Primary Today

Super Tuesday has arrived as Oklahoma joins several other states to choose presidential candidates for the November general election. There are Republican, Democratic, and Libertarian ballots. On the Republican ballot there are eight candidates including former President Donald Trump and the only GOP challenger remaining in the race in Nikki Haley. There are six candidates on the Democratic ballot including President Joe Biden, and there are two candidates on the Libertarian ballot in Chase Oliver and Jacob Hornberger. Polls are open until 7:00 p.m. tonight.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.74 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.56.

Natural gas is $1.92 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,130 and silver is $24.12.

 

Obituary

Mike Austin

A graveside service for Mike Austin, 67, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 6th at Fairlawn Cemetery. He owned and operated a construction company.  Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Monday, March 4th

 

Chix City Council to Consider Resolution to Request

Naming Turnpike Bridge in Honor of Dr. Ada Sipuel-Fisher

The Chickasha City Council will consider a resolution tonight to ask the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority to name a bridge over the Washita River northeast of the city in honor of Dr. Ada Sipuel-Fisher. Fisher was the first black student to attend the OU Law School after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in her favor in Fisher's 1946 lawsuit against OU. Fisher grew up in Chickasha and was a valedictorian at Lincoln High School. The ruling led the way for future decisions by the nation's high court to eliminate segregation in public schools and universities.

Equipment purchase, Lake Chickasha project also to be reviewed

The council will consider spending more than $145,000 on a John Deere compact track loader from state contract; and spend another $30,000 to remove some of the dilapidated docks at Lake Chickasha. The bid is from Washita Construction to remove all the poor structures was higher than anticipated and officials are asking to use the $30,000 budgeted to get started.

Date may be set to auction leases for mineral rights

The panel will consider publicizing a proposed auction date for some oil and gas mining leases for just over 3 acres of property on two sites in the downtown area; and consider scheduling city-wide garage sales for May 9th-11th and waiving permit fees for those dates. A new officer for the police department, Logan Bonds is expected to be sworn in. The city council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall. The meeting will be video streamed on the City of Chickasha’s YouTube channel which is available on the city's website. It will also be televised on Optimum Cable Channel 3.

Teen Critical Following ATV Crash

A Tuttle teenager was critically injured in an ATV accident. The unidentified 15-year old was a passenger on a 2023 Polaris driven by a 13-year old Tuttle teen who was not injured. The accident happened about 10:30 a.m. Sunday on private property in Caddo County seven miles east of Binger. The Highway Patrol reports that the driver hit an uneven area in a pasture, overturned, and pinned the passenger underneath.

 

Prescribed Burning Group Schedules Meeting

While the damage from devastating wildfires in northwest Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle is still mounting, a local group will have an upcoming meeting to help minimize the risk for wildfires in this region. The Caddo and Grady County Prescribed Burn Association will be having its first meeting of the year on Tuesday, March 26th. The group will meet at the Grady County OSU Extension office in Chickasha at 6:30 p.m. that night. For information contact Don West through the Grady and Caddo County OSU Extension offices for a phone number and e-mail address.

 

Grady County Ag Producers Meet Tomorrow Morning

OSU Extension breeding and reproductive specialist Dan Stein is tomorrow's speaker at the Grady County ag producers meeting. That will get underway at 7 o'clock tomorrow morning at the extension office.

 

Friend Fire Department has Benefit Tonight

The Friend Volunteer Fire Department is having its community appreciation dinner tonight. It will be held at the Friend School Cafeteria from 3:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $79.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.56.

Natural gas is $1.84 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,092 and silver is $23.36.

 

Obituary

Larry Roberson

Funeral service for Larry Roberson, 75, of Alex will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 9^th at Sevier Funeral Home. He was a U.S. Military veteran and worked in the oil field.

 

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Saturday, March 2nd

 

Contractor Sought for Alleged Embezzlement

An arrest warrant has been issued for a man accusing of scamming Grady County residents out of tens of thousands of dollars. The warrant stems from an investigation by the state attorney general's office into allegations against 43-year old Dustin Lee Roberts. It’s alleged Roberts entered into contracts with several people and was paid for work he never started. KSWO-TV cites court documents indicating that projects included swimming pools and metal buildings between March of 2022 and October of 2023 totaling more than $140,000. Roberts is charged with three felonies including embezzlement and having a pattern of criminal offenses. The documents also indicate that Roberts never returned calls when the victims tried to contact him.

 

Man Back in Jail Hours After Being Released 

A man who had been released from jail is back in custody just hours after being set free. 28-year old Colton Donald Kay of Lindsay was initially being held for public intoxication. On-line court records indicate that Kay was back in jail Thursday night accused of burglary. KSWO-TV cites documents filed in Grady County District Court saying a witness saw a man trying to break into his neighbor's home just outside of Chickasha. Grady County deputies were quick to respond and took Kay back to jail. He is now charged with a felony count of second degree burglary and faces up to three years behind bars if convicted. He remains in jail on a $10,000 bond.

 

Area Ranchers Unite to Help Fellow Ranchers Victimized by Wildfires

Grady County ranchers have organized an effort to help fellow ranchers in northwest Oklahoma who suffered losses in this week's wildfires. The Grady County Cattle Producers Association says there are many orphaned calves that need to be fed because the momma cows either died or suffered injuries which don't allow the calves to nurse. Past-president Katie Luttrell said they are collecting donations of powdered milk replacement, feeding bottles, and other items. The products can be purchased at any farm supply store and taken to the Chickasha Country Store where the items will be taken to the ranchers who need assistance. Monetary donations may be made to the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and that can be done on-line at the website: www.okcattlmen.org

 

State House Passes Controversial Bill

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved a controversial bill that supporters say would allow the state and not the federal government to have a say in the construction of new electric transmission lines - and that it would result in lower costs for consumers. However, opponents of HB 4097 said it would lead to increased rates. The website OK Energy Today reports the proposal would not require major utilities to go through the competitive bidding process for the projects. Supporters say would implement free market principles and assert states' rights in high-voltage transmission construction line and ownership. Among those opposed to the bill is AARP where officials say it is a rotten deal for residential utility customers and mandates an anti-competitive practice which would increase rates. The measure passed by a vote of 65 to 29 and now heads to the senate where it is being carried by Sen. Lonnie Paxton R-Tuttle).

 

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Ginna Waddell with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Foster Care program 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, March 1st

 

Fewer Kids are in Foster Care but More Foster Homes Still Needed

Thousands of Oklahoma children are in foster care with the state Department of Human Services (DHS). And while the numbers are down over the last decade officials said there is always a need for foster homes. Ginna Waddell is a DHS foster care recruiter for southwest Oklahoma-

 

              

 

 

There are more than two dozen foster homes in Grady County and many care for children from other parts of the state. DHS tries to keep the children as close to their hometowns as possible. It can take several months for prospective homes to go through the application process, a background check, and training before being approved. For information on becoming a foster parent or parent, visit the website: www.okfosters.org

 

Chix Library Hosts Artifact Identification Program

If you have arrow heads, crude bone tools, or other artifacts you may have found and would like to get information about, officials with the Oklahoma Anthropological Society will be in Chickasha tomorrow to provide some insight. Mel Phillips is one of those who will be on hand to give their opinions on those items-

 

              

 

 

Phillips says the Oklahoma Archeological Society has identified nearly 300 historic and pre-historic sites in Grady County alone where items have been found. The program is free and will be held at the Chickasha Public Library from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow.

 

Jr. Livestock Show Brings Big Bids for Top Animals

The Grady County Junior Livestock Show wrapped up with the premium sale last night. The final numbers from the auction and the add-ons were not immediately available. Officials said they were still waiting for more add-ons to be contributed today. In the early bidding, the grand champion steer shown by Katlin Adams of Ampo brought in $4,250 but it was not the most money paid for an animal. The reserve grand champion steer shown by Madilyn Norvell of Ampo and the reserve grand champion barrow hog shown by Olivia Bradford also of Ampo both brought $5,000. Last year, the bonus sale brought a record $160,000 and add-ons of more than $150,000 were also a record.

 

Volunteer Fire Department Fundraisers Coming Up

Two Grady County volunteer fire departments will have fundraisers over the next few days. The Acme station west of Rush Springs will have a catfish and chicken strip lunch Sunday, March 3^rd from noon to 3:00 p.m. The Friend Fire Station will have its annual community appreciation dinner Monday, March 4th at Friend School cafeteria. That will be a barbecue dinner and cake auction from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.26.

London-based Brent crude is $83.62.

Natural gas is $1.86 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,063 and silver is $22.90.

 

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Thursday, Feb. 29th

 

Drug Trafficking Suspect Pleads Guilty

A woman arrested nearly a year ago for drug trafficking pleads guilty. 29-year old Jessica Nicole Wright entered the plea in Grady County District Court last week prior to a jury trial that had been scheduled. Wright was arrested in March of 2023 after the Grady County Sheriff's Office received a tip that she was selling opioids laced with fentanyl out the motel room she was staying in. Wright was sentenced to 15 years in prison with seven years suspended and ordered to pay more than $500 in fines. She was also sentenced to a year in jail for pleading guilty to a felony drug possession charge and a misdemeanor for having drug paraphernalia.

 

Areas of Chickasha Without Water Today

Some Chickasha neighborhoods will be without water service for an undetermined amount of time today. The areas include the 100 through the 300 blocks of an area from Ada Sipuel Avenue to Tennessee Avenue, and the 300 blocks of Florida and Georgia Avenues. Crews are working on some water line improvements in that area. City crews are repairing water line breaks at 13th and Wisconsin and 17th and Dakota so homes in those areas may have low or no water pressure. Check the City of Chickasha Facebook page for updates.

 

Chix Schools Work to Increase Safety of Students, Staff

Chickasha public school officials have been working to improve security at all school sites. Today, high school students will be receiving identification badges that they will have to wear at all times on school grounds. They will also have to swipe the cards through an access panel located next to doors when they enter and leave the building. High school principal Debby Davis-

 

              

 

 

High school faculty and other employees have had their ID badges for about two months. Davis says there are plans to implement a similar system at the middle school.

 

Junior Livestock Show Closes with Bonus Sale Tonight

Today is the final day of the Grady County Junior Livestock Show at the Grady County Fairgrounds. In the beef show yesterday, Katlin Adams of Ampo had the grand champion steer and Madilyn Norvell of Ampo had the reserve grand. The grand champion county-bred steer was shown by Ladd Turner with the steer coming from Turner Farms.  Ladd also had both the grand and reserve grand champion prospect steers. The grand champion heifer was shown by Raegan Wilburn of Tuttle and the reserve grand was shown by Kylie Callis of Minco. Callis also had the grand champion county-bred heifer. The buyers’ dinner gets underway at 5:00 p.m. with an awards presentation at 6:15 p.m. and the bonus sale at 6:30 p.m. with 125 animals being led through the show ring.

 

Anadarko Library to Join Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

The Anadarko Public Library will soon join the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program which will be available to all Caddo County residents. The program allows youngsters from birth to five years old to receive a free book in the mail every month. Parton launched the program through her Dollywood Foundation nearly 30 years ago and today the Foundation mails more than two million high-quality, age-appropriate books around the world every month. The kick-off for the program will be Saturday, March 9th from 9 a.m. to noon at the Anadarko Library. Parents and guardians can also register children on line at: www.imaginationlibrary.com

Children will begin receiving their books about eight to ten weeks after registration.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.54 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.68.

Natural gas is $1.88 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,039 and silver is $22.56.

 

Obituaries

Patricia May

A graveside service for Patricia May, 81, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 2nd at the Alex Cemetery. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

James Garvin

No service is scheduled for James Garvin, 89, of Chickasha. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

 

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Wednesday, Feb. 28th

 

Burglary Suspect Jailed After Barricading Himself in RV

A Blanchard burglary suspect was arrested this week after holding law enforcement at bay. The incident happened Monday night with the Grady County Sheriff's Office reporting the suspect barricaded himself inside an RV. The sheriff's office posted information on its Facebook page saying the agency's SWAT team responded to a mutual aid call from Blanchard. The post indicates that at one point the suspect tried to start the RV but was unsuccessful. The suspect refused to follow the SWAT team's 'lawful direction' so the team entered the vehicle and took the suspect into custody without incident. The Facebook page has photos and a description of their work. The post does not identify the suspect. Formal charges have not yet been filed.

 

Mobile Meals to Shut Down; Other Groups Take Over

For more than four decades many homebound seniors in Chickasha have been able to get free meals delivered to their homes each weekday through a group called Mobile Meals. It's been announced that Mobile Meals will be shutting down however other groups will make sure the estimated 100 seniors being served will still be taken care of. The website Chickasha Today reports that all but three have been transferred to the Chickasha Senior Nutrition Center. The three who did not qualify due to age restrictions will be assisted by the Chickasha Soup Kitchen. Mobile Meals President Judith Jernigan said part of the reason they stopped was that meals had become too expensive. Mobile Meals had been getting contributions from churches, civic groups, businesses, and individual donors.

 

Grady County Junior Livestock Show Continues 

The first two days of the Grady County Junior Livestock Show are in the books. Yesterday was a big day for Kobi Scroggins of Tuttle. Kobi had both the grand champion market lamb and ewe in the sheep show; and the grand and reserve champion doe goats in the goat show. McKenna Hurley of Alex had the reserve-grand ewe in the sheep show which included 58 market lambs and 16 ewes.

Goat Show

In the goat show, Kolton Kohler of Alex had the grand champion wether and Jack Ferrell of Ampo had the reserve-grand. There were 24 wethers and 14 does in the goat show.

Swine Show

The grand champion barrow was a spot Poland shown by Adi Brumley of Ninnekah and the reserve-grand was a hampshire shown by Olivia Bradford of Ampo. There were 164 barrows shown. The grand gilt was a cross shown by Hallie Herrel of Minco and the reserve-grand was a cross shown by Kennedy Clark also of Minco. There were 38 gilts shown. 

 

Stock Show Judge Defines his Work

The judge for the first two days of the show was Mark Hoge from Illinois who teaches at Western Illinois University. He's been judging livestock across the country for many years and has judged at the Oklahoma Youth Expo (OYE) in Oklahoma City. He described how he tells individuals without a livestock background what he does.

 

              

 

 

The beef show takes center stage at the junior livestock show today at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $78.87 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $83.65.

Natural gas is $1.62 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,036 and silver is $22.51.

 

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Tuesday, Feb. 27th

 

Silver Alert Canceled for Missing Woman

A Silver Alert that was issued for a missing Dibble woman has been canceled. The Grady County Sheriff's Office issued the alert Monday morning for 74-year old Elizabeth Gerold who had last been seen leaving DJs Convenience Store at the Dibble Crossroads about 10:00 p.m. Sunday. Late last night the sheriff's office said she had been located and was OK but gave no other details.

 

Wildfire Threat to be at Extreme Level Today

The threat for wildfires will be at its highest level today as much of the Sooner State will see record-high temperatures and near gale-force winds. The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Fire Warning from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid-to-upper 80s with some 90-degree temps.  There will also be sustained winds 20-30 miles per hour and gusts to 50 miles per hour. Humidity levels will be in the teens, vegetation is dry, and there has been little if any rain over the last couple of weeks. Grady County fire officials continue to ask residents to not burn anything, motorists towing trailers are urged to make sure tow chains will not drag the pavement, and smoking drivers are asked to not throw cigarette butts out the window. Anyone seeing smoke should call 9-1-1.

Firefighters squelch flames Monday

Several Grady County volunteer fire departments were summoned to battle a couple of grass fires yesterday. One was southwest of Rush Springs with the Acme, Bailey, Cox City, Farwell, and Ninnekah stations along with Marlow all dispatched to help Rush Springs. Crews were on that fire for about three hours. KWTV News 9 indicated a grass fire in the Amber area but no information was available on that blaze.

 

Grady County Junior Livestock Show Underway

The 89^th annual Grady County Junior Livestock Show is underway. Goats and lambs will be weighed this morning with the shows later on this afternoon at The Grady County Fairgrounds. Several hundred animals will be led through the show rings this week with the top 125 animals going to the bonus sale Thursday night. Last year was a record year for the sale and add-ons with a combined total of nearly $313,000 paid out to the exhibitors. The sale brought in $160,000 and add-ons were $153,000. The buyers’ dinner will be Thursday night starting at 5:00 p.m.; the awards presentation at 6:15 p.m.; and the bonus sale starting at 6:30 p.m.

 

Time is now to Apply for Homestead Exemptions

Officials with the Grady County Assessor's office say property owners only have a couple of weeks left to apply for any property tax exemptions they may be eligible for in 2024. It's also time for those who have purchased a new home; opened a business; acquired or sold equipment for a business; acquired or sold farm equipment; or purchased or sold a mobile home to report those purchases. Homestead forms can be downloaded from the website www.okcountyassessors.org

Grady County Assessor Bari Firestone says March 15th is the deadline to apply for homestead exemptions. Also, seniors 65 and older and had a gross income of less than $90,000 in 2023 can have the market value of their property frozen. Military veterans who are 100 percent disabled and their unmarried widowed spouses can qualify their homestead property to be totally exempt from taxation (the disability must be service-related). For details on these programs and other information contact the assessor’s office at the Grady County Courthouse. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

USAO Hosts Hall-of-Fame Journalists

USAO is hosting a program which will discuss the evolving role of journalism in America. Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Famers Dick Pryor with KGOU radio and Ted Streuli with Oklahoma Watch will address the program called ‘Trust Me, I'm a Journalist’. They'll talk about where journalism started, where it is now, and where it's headed. It's a free program that will be held tonight in the USAO Regents Room. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with the program starting at 7:00 p.m.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $77.58 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $82.53.

Natural gas is $1.66 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,046 and silver is $22.84.

 

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Monday, Feb. 26th

 

Silver Alert Issued for Missing Dibble  Area Woman

(UPDATE, Tuesday, Feb. 27th -  The Grady County Sheriff's Office has canceled the Silver Alert. Officials say she has been located and is OK)

The Grady County Sheriff's Office has issued a Silver Alert for a missing senior from the Dibble Area. Authorities are looking for 74-year old Elizabeth Gerold. She was last seen about 8:45 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25th when she left her home to go to DJ's Store in Dibble. She was driving a 2008 white Ford Crown Victoria with the numbers 750 on the roof. She is Caucasian, 5' 6" tall, weighs 135 pounds, and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a yellow long-sleeve shirt. She has scarring on her neck, face, and chest and has a tattoo of the Looney Tunes Tasmanian Devil on her right bicep. She does experience memory loss and takes medication. Anyone with information about her should call 9-1-1 or the Grady County Sheriff's Office at 405-224-0984.

 

Fire Chiefs Warn of Fire Danger

The fire chiefs for all of Grady County's volunteer departments are warning of the risk of wildfires over the next few days. The county fire department Facebook page say they have declared War Days today through Wednesday because of the very warm temperatures and high winds in the forecast. The declaration calls for three departments to automatically be called out for each fire. The post indicates that many firefighters will be at their regular jobs, so resources will be thin. There is not a burn ban, but the chiefs ask that residents not burn nor do anything to cause a spark. They say that should anyone see smoke, or a vehicle dragging a chain that could create sparks and start a fire to call 911. Several departments were called out to battle fires over the weekend.

 

Auto-Ped Collision Kills Caddo County Woman

A woman walking along a dark rural Caddo County last night died after being hit by a car. The highway patrol reports 45-year old Tisha Pickard of  Apache was pronounced dead at the scene. It happened about five miles north of Apache on U.S. Highway 281 just after 9:15 p.m. The car was driven by 72-year old Charles Yeahquo of Apache. Neither he nor a passenger were injured. The highway patrol says the cause of the accident is still under investigation.

 

Correction to Child Sexual Assault Report

KOOL News has a correction to a story we aired last week concerning the child sexual abuse trial of Kenneth Clay Dietrich. We were wrong when we reported that Dietrich pleaded guilty. Dietrich, who was charged with three counts, was found to be guilty in a non-jury trial in front of District Judge Kory Kirkland. District Attorney Jason Hicks tells KOOL News that Kirkland found Dietrich guilty on two of the counts, while a third was demurred meaning there was not sufficient evidence to warrant a conviction. A representative of Dietrich's family said that Dietrich is planning to appeal the convictions.

 

Fire Fighters Concerned with New Training Requirements

We have more news about rural fire fighters today. Several rural fire coordinators met with state lawmakers last week over concerns about new mandatory training requirements. About a dozen coordinators met with State Representatives David Smith and Rick West last and a press release says it was a standing- room only meeting. Smith said fire officials are upset about some rumors they are hearing about what might be required of them from the state fire marshal regarding state laws. The lawmakers say they will facilitate discussion between coordinators, fire chiefs, and the state fire marshal so everyone can be on the same page about the new requirements. The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 13th in Room 450 at the state capital.

 

Volunteer Fire Departments Schedule Fundraisers

By the way, there are a several benefits for area fire stations coming up in the next few days. The Acme station west of Rush Springs will have a catfish lunch on Sunday, March 3rd to include not only catfish but chicken strips, fries and dessert. That will be from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday. The Friend Fire Station will have its annual community appreciation dinner next Monday night, March 4th at Friend School cafeteria. That will be a barbecue dinner and cake auction from 3:30 to 8 p.m.  Also, the Amber fire and police departments will have their annual Boots and Badges Community Appreciation Dinner on Saturday, March 9th from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the AmPo High School Cafeteria.

 

Tribes Recieve Purple Heart Reservation Designation

The Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache tribes are being recognized as a Purple Heart Reservation, honoring those who were killed or injured during times of war. Kiowa Tribal chairman Lawrence Spottedbird said it took several years for the designation to be authorized. Spottebird said there are about 30 Purple Heart recipients who are citizens of the tribes who are alive today.

 

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $76.49 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $81.62.

Natural gas is $1.60 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,041 and silver is $22.81.

 

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