Saturday, Nov. 16th

State Receives Grant Connected to Broadband Expansion

Oklahoma has already received more than $1 billion in federal funds to get high-speed broadband service into rural areas of the state. Officials with the Oklahoma Broadband Office now say they are getting a huge grant to help teach individuals how to use the Internet once they get access to it. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration has awarded the state an $11.2 million grant that will be used to show new users how to effectively access the world wide web and learn about on-line services. Mike Sanders is the director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office. He said the state must be committed to digital education because it is essential for residents to be equipped with the skills needed to effectively and confidently navigate the on-line world. Sanders said his office will be launching its latest broadband expansion project in western Oklahoma next week. Dobson Fiber will be working to expand Internet service to an eight-county area in and around Custer County.

State Audit Critical of City of Lindsay Operations

A detailed audit of the City of Lindsay by State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd found significant mismanagement and a failure of city council members to provide oversight of expenses. A press release from the state auditor shows the city under-billed commercial customers by about $1.5 million, and there were failures to process utility rate increases and processing late fees which resulted in the loss of about $150,000 in revenue.  Byrd said the warning signs were there but no one was looking. The audit also indicated that nearly $500,000 in sales tax funds earmarked for the Lindsay Public Works Authority (LPWA) were improperly retained in the general fund account and not used for LPWA purposes as required by law. Byrd said while there were countless examples of deficient oversight, mismanagement, and poor decision making, they found that less than $2,000 of fraudulent expenses. She did say the officials are working to resolve the issues and it appears the city has turned the corner financially.

Talk Show Topic

On the KOOL Konversation Rev. Chuck Fletcher is talking about his work with the Evolution Foundation which partners with the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. Find a podcast of the program under the community tab on this website.

Obituary

Kevin White

Funeral service for Kevin White, 52, formerly of Chickasha was held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 16^th at Bible Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, an LPN, and a kitchen manager for the Department of Corrections. Arrangements were with Brown-Thomas Funeral Home.

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Friday, Nov. 15th

Second Arrest Made in Suspected Child Abuse Probe

RANCH News has more information about allegations of child abuse at a Chickasha home. The mother of the infant is now behind bars after authorities she allowed the abuse to take place. 18-year old Kayla McDaniel was taken into to custody yesterday after Chickasha police requested a warrant for her arrest this past Tuesday. The warrant was for felony enabling child abuse and misdemeanor failure to report child abuse. The father of the six-week old, Colt Stelting, was arrested last week. Police were called to OU Children's Hospital to investigate a child abuse report. Authorities allege that McDaniel had taken SnapChat videos of the abuse, including Stelting shaking the baby and throwing the child in the air where the infant hit his head on the ceiling. Stelting is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $500,000 bond and McDaniel is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Grady County Treasurer Mails Property Tax Statements

The Grady County Treasurer's office has mailed out the end-of-year property tax statements. Treasurer Robin Burton said the office sent out more than 40,000 statements which includes those sent to mortgages companies. The total dollar value of property taxes is just over $90 million which is an increase of 4.1 percent over last year. Burton said there is a change regarding property tax payments. Property owners can pay all or half the amount due on or before December 31st which is two weeks earlier than in years past. The second half is due on or before March 31st of 2025.

Bill Wallace School Teacher of the Year

RANCH News wraps up our series of the site teachers of the year for Chickasha Public Schools today. Let's hear from Gretchen Slate who is the principal of the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center-

Kelsey and the other teachers of the year - Christian McCarter at Grand Elementary, Dominique Golightly at Lincoln, Lacee Broyles at the middle school, and Jen Jantzen at the high school who are all in the running to be the District Teacher of the Year which will be announced in the spring.

OHCE Celebration of Crafts Underway

Grady County OHCE holds its annual celebration of crafts show this weekend. The event features more than 50 vendors with mostly hand-made items for sale. There will also be cakes, pies, cookies, and rolls. There will be a quilt show and a quilt turning, and photos with Santa and the Grinch will be available. It's going on in the North Exhibit building at the Grady County Fairgrounds today and tomorrow.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.97 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.80.

Natural gas is $2.71 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,572 and silver is $30.65.

Obituaries

'Gurney' Smith

Funeral service for Sharon 'Gurney' Smith, 67, of Chickasha was held at 10:00 a.m. this morning (Friday, Nov. 15^th) at Bible Baptist Church. She worked at Delta Faucet for more than 30 years. Arrangements were with McRay Funeral Home.

Cleo Lawson

Funeral service for Cleo Lawson, 84, of Tulsa and formerly of Chickasha will be at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16th at McRay Funeral Home. She worked at Hermetic Switch (now known as HSI Sensing) for nearly 20 years.

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Thursday, Nov. 14th

Alysia Adams Opts to Face Trial for Death of Child

Alysia Adams, the Caddo County woman charged with murder in connection with the death of 4-year old Athena Brownfield, has opted to go to trial instead of pleading guilty to killing the child. It was reported that Adams, who had been appointed caretaker of Athena, had worked out a plea deal with prosecutors to possibly avoid the death penalty. Now, the case will go to a trial by a jury of Adams' peers in Caddo County District Court in Anadarko with a date to be determined. Ivon Adams, a second caretaker of Athena, is also charged with murder.

Teen Dad Faces Child Abuse Charge

A Chickasha man is charged with child abuse for allegedly shaking an infant and tossing the child where the baby hit its head on the ceiling. 19-year old Colt Dean Stelting was arrested by Chickasha police last Friday. A probable cause affidavit alleges several instances of abuse of the six-week old baby including pinching the baby and bruising his face between Sept. 24th and Nov. 7th. It's alleged there was video evidence of Stelting shaking the baby, and also of him holding the child in one arm and a gun in the opposite hand, wrapping the child's finger around the trigger, and pointing the gun at the camera with Stelting saying "I want my f-ing milk". Stelting is charged with one felony count of child abuse and is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $500,000 bond.  He's to be back in court for a preliminary hearing conference next week.

Suspect Arrested for Alleged Drug Trafficking, Assaulting Cop

Verden police arrest a man for allegedly having drugs and assaulting a police officer. 35-year old Dillon Don Jackson Lewis of Anadarko was pulled over for making an improper turn Monday night. A probable cause affidavit indicates Lewis had marijuana on him but he did not have a medical marijuana card. The officer then saw what appeared to be packages of methamphetamine in the vehicle.  A scuffle ensued and its alleged Lewis poured some of the meth into a puddle. Lewis was eventually subdued and taken to the Grady County Jail. Lewis is facing charges of assault on a police officer, drug trafficking, and destroying evidence. He remains in jail on a $100,000 bond. A preliminary hearing conference is set for Dec. 11th.

Grand Avenue Teacher of the Year

RANCH News is featuring the site teachers of the year for Chickasha Public Schools this week. Today we have the Grand Avenue Elementary Principal Kathy Wenzel to tell us about their teacher-

Tomorrow, we'll have the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center teacher of the year.

Grady County Fairgrounds Hosts Top Dogs in the Country

Some of the top dogs in America will be making their way to the Grady County Fairgrounds over the next several days. The Town and Country Kennel Club of Norman and the Canadian County Kennel Club of El Reno will host their annual Sooner Circuit Cluster of Dog Shows. Hundreds of dogs will be led through show rings, with handlers looking to gain enough points for their dogs to qualify for the top dog shows in the country next year like the Westminster and Eukanuba Dog Shows. The shows begin today and runs through Sunday. Admission is free and open to the public.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.71 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.56.

Natural gas is $2.95 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,552 and silver is $29.95.

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Wednesday, Nov. 13th

Caregiver Expected to Plead Guilty to Child's Death

The next chapter regarding the death of a four-year old Cyril girl is expected to come to a close today. The body of Athena Brownfield - reported missing a week after Christmas nearly two years ago - was found buried in a make-shift grave near Agawam in January of 2023. Alycia and Ivon Adams, who were caretakers of Athena, are both facing murder charges in connection with her death. KWTV News 9 reports that Alycia Adams will plead guilty to murder in Caddo County District Court today. It's reported that she will avoid the death penalty by doing so. Ivon Adams has a court date in January.

Two Suspects Arrested for Grow-Facility Robbery

Two suspects are behind bars in connection with that hold up of a marijuana grow facility near Cement last week. Court documents indicate the men were already under investigation for other crimes and authorities had managed to obtain their cell phone numbers. Officials were able to determine that the two men were at the Cement location at the time of the robbery. 25-year old Treshaun Demond Traylor and 24-year old Tauriawn Latrelle Knight, both of Oklahoma City, were arrested in Oklahoma City less than 24 hours after the robbery.  It's alleged the suspects had guns when they broke into the grow, assaulted several employees, and took more than $5,000 in cash and several bundles of processed marijuana. Both Traylor and Knight have been charged with multiple counts of robbery by force or fear, drug trafficking, and malicious injury to property. Both men are being held in the Grady County Jail on $300,000 bond each.

Tank Battery Blast Damage Held to a Minimum

A tank battery explosion rocked a rural area between Ninnekah and Alex early Tuesday morning. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said a 9-1-1 call came in just after midnight. The blast occurred near State Highway 19 and CS2900. Ninnekah and Chickasha fire departments were dispatched with Ninnekah sending three trucks and five firefighters. No one was at the site when the explosion occurred. Damage was confined to the location and crews spent about an hour and a half at the site. Gregory said the cause of the explosion is still under investigation.

Norge Highway Paving Project to Impact Traffic

Motorists who use the Norge Highway between Grand Avenue and Country Club Road will be slowed by some road improvements being made today. The City of Chickasha and employees with the District 3 Grady County Commissioners office will be applying a two-inch asphalt overlay to the roadway. Traffic will be down to one lane during the project. Officials hope to complete the work this afternoon.

Non-Profit Delivers More Amazon Warehouse Items to CPS

Another two semi-trailer loads of returned and discontinued items from Amazon have been delivered to Chickasha Public Schools this morning. School employees and volunteers arrived before 6:00 a.m. to unload the semis at the Bill Wallace School gymnasium. This is the second of five such deliveries for the district from the non-profit group - Life's Hope of Duncan. Items include household goods, home decor, clothing, car parts, and more. All the items are free and today, students from Grand Avenue School will get to select two items - one for themselves and one for someone else. Life's Hope works with other non-profits across the country and has helped to distribute more than $13 million in items throughout the United States this year.

Lincoln School Intermediate Counselor Honored

Time recognize another site teacher of the year for Chickasha Public Schools. Let's hear from Angie Morgan, the principal at Lincoln School Intermediate Center-

Tomorrow we'll feature the Grand Elementary teacher of the year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.25 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.02.

Natural gas is $2.86 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,615 and silver is $30.95.

Obituaries

Kay Hart

 Funeral service for Kay Hart, 81, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She and her late husband Anthony owned and operated Hart Trailers.

Vanda White

Funeral service for Vanda White, 68, of Ninnekah will be held at  2:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15th at McRay Funeral Home. She was a homemaker.

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Tuesday, Nov. 12th

Grady County Veterans Saluted for their Service

A program to honor and recognize the service of military veterans was held at the Grady County Veterans Memorial at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park as part of Veterans Day ceremonies yesterday. The occasion marked the 29th anniversary of the memorial. Guest speaker was Retired Army Master Sergeant Bill Flores who spent 22 years serving our country including several tours to the Middle East. Flores said many have seen the horrors of war, and older veterans need to reach out younger vets to help them deal with mental health issues associated with their military service-

Prior to the program a number of students from Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center spent time at the memorial and members of the Grady County Rock Island 4H Club gave certificates of appreciation  to veterans in attendance.

Medicare Changes Announced

It's the time of year when Medicare recipients can enroll in new programs. Social Security recipients will be a getting slight increase of 2.5 percent for 2025 however that will be offset by an increase for the cost of Medicare Part B for out-patient services. Ray Walker with the Oklahoma Insurance Department's Medicare Assistance Program said a change in the prescription drug coverage will benefit those who are on a lot of medications-

Open enrollment runs through Dec. 7th. Walker suggests talking with a reputable local insurance company to offer assistance in signing up for Medicare for the first time or to discuss options about changing coverage plans.

Chix Middle School Teacher Honored

Ranch News is featuring the site teachers of the year for Chickasha Public Schools this week. Today let's hear from Middle School Principal Tori Clark-

Tomorrow, we'll have the Lincoln School Intermediate teacher of the year.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.53 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.29.

Natural gas is $2.91 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,601 and silver is $30.42.

Obituary

John Johnson

Funeral service for Dr. John Johnson of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15th at Ferguson Funeral Home. He taught computer science at USAO and at the Johnson Space Center in Houston where he worked with the space shuttle program.

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Monday, Nov. 11th

Chix Schools Complete Renovation of Opportunity Workshop

Crews have been working the last few weeks to remodel the former Chickasha Opportunity Workshop into usable space for Chickasha schools. Tonight the school board will consider naming the building at Iowa Avenue and John Cowan Drive as the 'Chickasha Public Schools Educational Services Center'. Programs to be located in the building are the district's instructional technology department, the Chickasha Public School Foundation, the high school and middle school pom programs, the Pierson Testing Center, some additional classroom space, and a conference room.

Bill Wallace employees to be recognized

The Chickasha Board of Education will recognize a couple of employees at the Bill Wallace Early Childhood Center as the Chicken Express Employees of the Month during its regularly scheduled meeting for November tonight. They are Arizona Ridgeway who is the Certified Employee of the Month and Kayla Smith who is the Support Employee of the Month. Smith will also be recognized as the Support Employee of the Quarter.

CHS student nearly aces national test

Chickasha high school student Austin Clift will be recognized for her near perfect score on the PSAT. Clift score 1500 out of possible 1520 points which is in the top 1 percent of all test takers. The school board meets at 6 o'clock tonight at the school administration building.

Special meeting scheduled to consider teacher termination

The school board has a special meeting tomorrow to hold a hearing to consider a recommendation to fire certified teacher Dylan Nagode. Superintendent Rick Croslin is a making the recommendation to terminate Nagode who is listed as a music teacher on the school district's website. No information was provided about the reason for the recommendation. After the hearing the school board will go behind closed doors to consider the recommendation. That meeting is set for 3 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the school administration building.

Salvation Army to Begin Kettle Drive

The Salvation Army which serves Grady and Caddo counties is about to begin its annual Red Kettle Bell Ringing Campaign. The goal is to raise $45,000 all of which will be used to help needy families in the region. Lt. Bobby McFarland said they are always looking for volunteers to ring the bell and there is an easy way to sign up-

The bell-ringing campaign starts tomorrow and will run through Christmas Eve. McFarland also says that Angel Trees will be out soon with gift lists provided from area children. Last year there were more than 300 'angels' in the two-county area.

Chix Schools Site Teachers Featured this Week

This week RANCH news will feature the Site Teachers of the Year for Chickasha Public Schools. Honorees were selected by teachers at each school and each are candidates to be the Chickasha Public Schools Teacher of the Year that will be selected in the spring. We'll start at the high school today where Principal Debbie Davis talks about their selection-

We'll highlight the middle school teacher of the year tomorrow

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.38 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $73.87.

Natural gas is $2.67 per million BTUs.

Gold is$2,667 and silver is $31.40.

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Saturday, Nov. 9th

Suspects Face Federal Charges Related 

to 2023 Marijuana Grow Facility Robberies

A multi-county grand jury has charged four men for their alleged involvement in robberies at grow facilities in Alex and Marlow last year. 25-year old Geane Johnson, Jr; 21 year old Anthony Jermaine Rainger; 20-year old Amiel Elijah Rainger; and 20-year old Herbert Lee Morris, Jr. all face a number of felonies. The Lawton Constitution reports they are accused of stealing cash and bundles of packaged marijuana from Fuda2020 LLC in Alex and Butter Cookies LLC in Marlow in June of last year. They are believed to be associated with a group known as the Murder One Blood street gang. They face counts of robbery; conspiracy to commit robbery; assault while in disguise; committing a gang-related offense; and engaging in patterns of criminal offenses. Two of them also face weapons charges. It's believed they may also be connected to other robberies that are under investigation.

ODOT Seeks Comment on 25-year Plan

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) is asking for your thoughts on its latest long-range transportation plan. ODOT is looking at projects over the next 25 years which is different from the agency's eight-year construction work plan. The website OK Energy Today reports the plan is required by the federal government to establish a comprehensive vision for the future and guiding the development of a network that insures safe, efficient, and reliable transportation options. They include traveling by car, public transit, trains, as well las by bicycle and on foot. It's also to include highways, passenger and freight railroads, airport access and waterways. You can review the plan on the website www.longrangeplan.org and leave comments through Dec. 20th. Additional public input will be needed when the initial proposal is released next summer.

Alpaca Producers Showing at the Grady County Fairgrounds

Alpaca producers from across the country are in Chickasha this weekend. They are taking part in the annual Alpaca Blast-off hosted by Alpacas of Oklahoma. Nearly 60 farms from 21 states are showing about 350 animals this weekend at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Judging is similar to a regular livestock show with the animals rated on their fleece and their body condition. The animals are also led through an obstacle course. Debbie Ashley with Alpacas of Oklahoma says the show is open to the public at no charge, and you can get up close and personal with the animals-

Alpacas are smaller and more docile than llamas. They are raised for breeding purposes and their fleece which is finer and warmer than wool. The fleece is spun into yarn to make sweaters, socks, scarves, and gloves, and is also made into the size of a baseball which you can toss in your dryer to remove static electricity from your clothes. The show begins at 9:00 a.m. both today and tomorrow.  

Talk Show Topic

Here's what we're talking about this weekend. Tammy Watts and E Vanbuskirk with Grady County OHCE are on the KOOL Konversation to discuss their organization and its upcoming Celebration of Crafts Show.  A podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Nov. 8th

City of Chickasha Begins 'Food for Fines' Program

The City of Chickasha has begun its Food for Fines program. Individuals who owe fines for traffic tickets or code violations can have their fines reduced by donating non-perishable food items to the municipal court located at the police department. Each item of non-perishable food donated will reduce fines by $10 with a maximum of $100 taken off what is owed. Officials say individuals who have outstanding warrants can participate without fear of being arrested and will be set up on a plan to pay the remaining balance. Items that will be accepted include canned vegetables and fruit; canned meats like chicken and tuna; bags or boxes of beans and rice; mac and cheese; crackers; and bags and boxes of cereal. Also accepted will be four-packs of toilet paper. All items will be donated to the Emergency Food Pantry. The Food for Fines program runs through Nov. 22nd.

The Imaginaries Release Song for Veterans

The Imaginaries, the musical duo of Shane Henry and Maggie McClure, debut their latest song today. It's a heartfelt tribute to military veterans called Carry Me, Carry On (Veteran's Song)-

The song is in collaboration with a group called Guitars for Vets, a group which raises awareness and funds to help at-risk veterans impacted by Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other service-related trauma. The music video was produced by Reagan Elkins and was shot at the Production House in downtown Chickasha.

Veterans Day Events Scheduled

As we head into the weekend before Veterans Day, a unique event will be held in Lawton. It's a 24-hour Veterans Day Walk.  It's called Steps Under the Stars and Stripes which will get underway this afternoon at the Lawton-Ft. Sill Visitors Center. Individuals and groups are welcome to join the walk at any time but won't have to walk the entire 24 hours. Tomorrow from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. the Tommy Franks Mobile Museum will be there and Ft. Sill will have some static displays. A number of guest speakers are scheduled. The visitors center is at 501 Southeast Flower Mound Road.

Grady County program is Monday

The Oklahoma Veterans Recognition Committee will have its annual Veterans Day program on Monday, Nov. 11^th which is Veterans Day. The program will be held at the Grady County Veterans Memorial at Chickasha's Shannon Springs Park starting at 11:00 a.m. In case of bad weather the program will be moved to the Chickasha Elks Lodge at 1818 W. Country Club Road. The Elks Lodge will serve all veterans and their guests a meal after the program.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.63.

Natural gas is $2.72 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,696 and silver is $31.56.

Obituary

Earl 'Eddie' Cowan

Funeral service for Eddie Cowan, 60, of Verden will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9th at McRay Funeral Home. He worked in a number of hospitals, established the Cottonwood Senior Center in Verden, and cared for more than 180 foster children.

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Thursday, Nov. 7th

Grow Facility Held Up at Gun Point

Grady County deputies are looking for a number of suspects believed to have been involved in the armed robbery of a marijuana grow facility last night. Authorities were called out to the Cement area near CS 2790 and CR1450 about 8:30 p.m. Media reports indicate as many as seven suspects stormed into the facility with weapons. There were no reports of injuries. The suspects and 20 or more employees are believed to have fled the area. Officials have called in the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics to assist with the investigation. No arrests have been made. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Grady County Sheriff's Office by calling 405-224-0984.

WFEC to Build New Generators

In Anadarko, Western Farmers Electric Co-op recently broke ground to build two new generators. When completed the co-op will be able to generate up to 650 megawatts of electricity. Mark Faulkinberry with Western Farmers says the demand for electricity has been on the rise-

He said the new generators will use jet-engine technology for faster start-ups.

Nat'l Weather Service Part of Middle School Science Fair

Chickasha Middle School students will get some great STEM training tomorrow. Officials from the National Weather Service as well as local and state emergency management groups will have a science fair for 7th and 8^th graders. Chickasha Emergency Management Director Edward Perez and Grady County Emergency Management Director Dale Thompson will be part of the program. Perez says there will be several stations the students can visit-

Perez says a new phrase has been coined to help individuals protect themselves should a tornado be headed their way. It's 'get in, get down, and get covered'.

USAO Readies for Upcoming Davis-Waldorf Programs

USAO is preparing for its second Davis-Waldorf Performing Arts Series (DWPAS) program later this month. The enchanting world of Japanese folk tales will come to life with performer Kuniko Yamamoto. The performance will be Thursday Nov. 21st at 7:30 p.m. in the Davis Hall Little Theatre. Tickets are now on sale at the USAO business office.  DWPAS officials say the university has received a grant which will help fund the third program in the series in February. The $5,000 grant comes from the Mid-America Arts Alliances Regional Touring program. The February 13th show will feature the Houston-based FLY Dance Company, also known as The Gentlemen of Hip Hop.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.09 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.46.

Natural gas is $2.75 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,671 and silver is $31.21.

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Wednesday, Nov. 6th

Election Results

Former President Donald Trump will return to Washington, D.C. after defeating Kamala Harris in yesterday's presidential election. Trump picked up the minimum 270 electoral votes needed to win the election and that total increased to 277 early this morning. Trump easily won in Oklahoma with more than 66 percent of the vote, receiving more than 1 million of the 1.5 million votes cast. Grady County voters backed Trump with 80 percent of the vote giving him 20,000 of the 25,000 votes cast.

Grady County fire tax gets big win

Grady County voters easily passed a 10-year extension of a sales tax for the nearly 20 fire districts in the county. It received 70 percent of the vote - 17,473 to 7,481. The 1/8th of a penny sales tax brings in about $1 million a year which is distributed evenly to the nearly 20 volunteer and municipal departments to help them buy and maintain vehicles and equipment, and to advance fire protection and prevention services.

New Mayor elected in Anadarko

In Anadarko, John McCasland won the mayor's post over two candidates including current Mayor Kelley McGlothlin. McClasland won despite not getting more than 50 percent of the vote. He received 716 votes which 48 percent; McGlothlin received 603 votes which was 40 percent; and Patrick Michael Hayes received 175 votes or about 12 percent. McCasland will serve out the remaining two years of McGlothlin's term.

Chix Fire Department to get New Ambulance

The Chickasha Fire Department will be getting a new ambulance. The city council this week approved the purchase of a 2024 Ram 550 ambulance through Emergency Vehicle Sales and Services of Oklahoma for more than $385,000. The funds will be reimbursed by the Grady County EMS District.

Shannon Springs Park pool, splash pad renovations approved

The council also approved a bid of more than $460,000 to rehabilitate the municipal swimming pool at Shannon Springs Park. The bid was awarded to Sunbelt Pools. Parks and Recreation Director Spencer Winzenried said it is expected to extend the life of the pool by 10 to 15 years. The council also approved a bid to rehabilitate the splash pad at Shannon Springs Park. The project was awarded to RJR Enterprises at a cost of just under $54,000.

Chix Schools, Community to Benefit from Duncan Non-Profit

A non-profit group out of Duncan is teaming up with several other non-profits across the country to distribute millions of dollars in food and products to school children and communities. Life's Hope is a humanitarian relief organization which has been around for nearly 20 years. The group brought two semi-trailers full of returned and discontinued items from an Amazon distribution center in Illinois to Chickasha's Bill Wallace School today. School employees and community volunteers helped to unload several pallets of items that included household items, bedding, clothing, ceiling fans, air fryers, and much more. The items are all given away starting with students who are allowed to pick one item for themselves and one for someone else. The community is then invited to pick up items at no charge (but they are not to re-sell them), with churches, the Salvation Army and other non-profits also invited to participate. This will take place at all the other school sites over the next few weeks.  For information about Life's Hope, check out its Facebook page.

Longtime Farm Service Agency Director Dies

Obituaries today include Darrell Cheshier who was the longtime director of the Grady County Farm Service Agency. Cheshier was 68 when he passed away after a brief illness  last week. He was very active with local and state square dancing clubs and had been president of the Swingin' Chicks Square Dance Club for many years. He was recently inducted into the state Square Dancing Hall of Fame. Funeral service was held in Maysville yesterday and he was laid to rest in the Schwartz Cemetery in Oklahoma City. He is survived by his wife Tawana, son Andrew, and daughter Kyla Roach her husband John and their families.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.07 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.56.

Natural gas is $2.67 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,729 and silver is $32.26.

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Tuesday, Nov. 5th

Chix Council Formally Hires New City Manager

Jim Crosby, who has served as the city of Chickasha's public works director the last four years, was officially hired to be the next city manager at city hall. After a nearly 30-minute executive session last night, the panel voted 8-0 to approve an employment contract with Crosby. Councilman Kelly Boyd was absent from last night's meeting. Crosby has worked in municipal government for more than 50 years and previously was city manager at Yukon and Piedmont. Crosby will start next Monday, Nov. 11th and will work with current city manager Keith Johnson over the next couple of months. Johnson recently announced his resignation and agreed to remain on the job through Dec. 31st. Mayor Zach Grayson said Crosby's base salary will be $145,000 per year plus benefits including a car allowance and some moving expenses.

FOP contract approved

Also in the closed door session, the council unanimously approved a collective bargaining agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police Local 129 for fiscal years 2024-26. Details of the contract were not released.

Explanation offered for non-working storm sirens during tornado warning

City of Chickasha officials say a computer glitch and the time change are to blame when the city's storm sirens failed when a tornado warning was issued Sunday afternoon. Emergency Management Director Edward Perez said a new computer has been ordered and it is expected to arrive tomorrow.

Two waterline construction projects OK'd

The council also approved spending nearly 3/4 of a million dollars for a couple of waterline projects. One is for the emergency repairs on a broken waterline underneath the Stillwater National Railroad next to the water treatment plant. The council approved a nearly $283,000 bid from Matthews Trenching Company of Oklahoma City for that project. The panel approved a more than $480,000 bid from Bear Creek Construction of Clinton for a water main construction project near Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad.

Obituaries

Mable Kinsey

Funeral service for Mable Kinsey, 96, of Moore and formerly of the Anadarko and Gracemont area will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6th at Ferguson Funeral Home. She was a nurse.

LeAnn Akins

A come-and-go celebration of life for LeAnn Akins, 77, of Chickasha will be held from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7th at Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Monday, Nov. 4^th

Several Tornado Warnings Issued in the Area

Strong thunderstorms have been moving through the Grady, Caddo and Canadian County areas over the last two days with at least three tornado warnings issued. Two of them were Sunday afternoon when storms developed near the communities of Cement and Cogar. A tornado warning for Chickasha was issued just before 3:30 p.m. Sunday when the National Weather Service (NWS) said radar-indicated rotation was near 4^th and Country Club Road. KWTV Channel 9 storm chasers Val and Amy Castor showed the rotating mesocyclone as it moved over the city. That stormed moved northeast to the Blanchard area. At nearly the same time the NWS issued a tornado warning for a storm in the Cogar area. That storm moved over Union City and then on to Yukon. Just after 6:00 a.m. this morning the NWS issued a tornado warning for a storm in the Tuttle area moving northeast into Oklahoma City. No tornados touched down in any of those storms and there were no reports of damage or injuries.

Chix Storm Sirens Did Not Work Sunday

Many Chickasha residents are questioning why the city's storm sirens did not go off during Sunday's tornado warning. City officials are also wondering why since the sirens were just tested within the last couple of weeks. A statement issued by the city said the sirens were activated three minutes before the tornado warning was issued but they did not work. The statement said officials are working with the company that serviced the sirens to find out why they didn't sound off. The statement says it's important that individuals have several ways to receive weather updates including having phone alerts, downloading weather apps, watching televisions stations, and having a NOAA weather radio.

Chix Council May Hire Next City Manager Tonight

A proposal to hire Jim Crosby as Chickasha's next city manager could be made official tonight. Crosby, who has been the city's Public Works Director for the last four years, was recommended for the post during a special city council meeting last week. The council gave Mayor Zach Grayson the authority to negotiate a contract. The council will go behind closed doors tonight to consider an employment agreement with Crosby. If approved, he'll assume the post currently held by Keith Johnson after the first of the year. Johnson previously announced he'll be leaving Dec. 31^st.

Panel to discuss contract talks with police union

Also in the closed-door session the council will discuss the status of negotiations regarding a collective bargaining agreement between the City and the Fraternal Order of Police Local No. 129 for 2024-26 fiscal years.

Contracts for two water line projects to be considered

The panel will also consider hiring a firm to make emergency repairs to a broken water line under the Stillwater National Railroad near the water treatment plant. A bid from Matthews Trenching Company for more than $370,000 is being recommended for approval. Also to be discussed is a waterline construction project in the area of Ada Sipuel Avenue and the Union Pacific Railroad to Bear Creek Construction of Clinton for nearly $500,000. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at City Hall.

Operation Greenlight Ceremony Held

A ceremony to honor veterans was held at the Grady County Courthouse this morning. It's part of a national campaign called Operation Greenlight, a week-long campaign to recognize veterans and the challenges they face. Featured speakers included Sheriff Gary Boggess, a U.S. Army veteran; retired teacher and school administrator John Smith who served in the U.S. Navy; and restaurant owner and businessman Josh Woods who served in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.30 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.94.

Natural gas is $2.63 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,747 and silver is $32.88.

Obituary

Roy Sutton

Funeral service for Roy Sutton, 72, of Chickasha will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Ferguson Funeral Home. He worked for Chickasha Manufacturing, the City of Chickasha, Maremont, Delta Faucet, and had a computer business with his brother.

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Saturday, Nov. 2nd

Drought and Flooding Possible this Weekend

Many parts of Oklahoma have been extremely dry over the last few months. Much of the state is in moderate drought conditions while a majority of southern Oklahoma is in extreme drought. That's expected to change this weekend as thunderstorms with heavy rains are expected to cross the state late this afternoon, tonight, and through Monday.  The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for much of the state through 6:00 p.m. Monday. Central Oklahoma could see four to seven inches of rain or more. The I-44 corridor between Lawton and Tulsa is in the bulls-eye for the flood watch. Excessive run-off may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations and flooding may also occur in poor drainage and urban areas. For motorists who may be caught on the road in heavy rains and high water officials say remember the adage 'Turn Around, Don't Drown'.

State Drought Committee Approves Relief Program

Agriculture producers in the Sooner State will be able to get some financial help due to the extremely dry conditions they've faced over the past few months. The state's Emergency Drought Committee will provide immediate and practical relief to those who have been affected according to one state official. Funds can be used to help secure water resources and address infrastructure needs. To qualify producers must be in counties where at least 25 percent of the land area is in D1 drought conditions or worse. That includes all of Grady, Caddo, Comanche, Stephens, and Garvin counties and much of McClain County. Much of southern Oklahoma south of I-40 is in D3 or extreme drought conditions. Applications will be available at local conservation districts and on the Oklahoma Conservation Commission website starting Nov. 12^th with the application period running through Jan. 31st. Eligible producers may apply for funds to help with pipeline installation, water wells, pond clean-out, heavy-use protection areas, pumping plants, watering facilities, and pasture taps.

'Standard' Time Returns; Fall 'Back'

Most Oklahomans are going to get an extra hour of sleep tonight as much of the country will return to Standard Time. The official time change will be at 2:00 a.m. Sunday. That means an extra hour of work for those on the night shift. The change means that sunrise and sunsets will be a little earlier.

Talk Show Topic

Ray Walker with the Medicare Assistance Program from the Oklahoma Insurance Department is on the KOOL Konversation to discuss options for senior citizens during the Medicare enrollment period underway. A podcasts of the program can be found on this website under the Community Tab.

Obituaries

Kathryn Davies

Funeral service for Kathryn Davies, 81, will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4th at Grand Assembly of God Church.  She worked with an electronics company in San Diego, California.  Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

Nellie Pugh

No service will be held for Nellie Pugh, 91, of Chickasha. She worked as a nurse and a cook before staying home to be a homemaker. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

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Friday, Nov. 1st

Chix Mayor Presents State-of-the-City Address

Chickasha is on the cusp of some good things to come. Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson discussed some reasons he thinks so in his first State-of-the-City address yesterday in a program organized by the Chamber of Commerce at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Grayson began his tenure as mayor in June and has a positive outlook-

Grayson said a voter-approved sales tax to build a new water treatment plant will get the city on the right track to improve water quality. Engineers are currently in the design phase for the $30 million facility. Plans are to go out for bids for construction in the spring with construction to start late next year. Estimated construction time is about 18 months with a completion perhaps in early 2027. Grayson also said the Tax Increment Finance (TIF) Districts recently approved by the council will help with future development and that upgrades at the airport will be beneficial. He said there will curves in the road ahead-

Grady County to Hold 'Operation Greenlight' for Veterans

Grady County officials will hold a ceremony on Monday to honor military veterans. County commissioners have issued a proclamation to Recognize Operation Greenlight, joining the National Association of Counties to encourage individuals and businesses to shine green lights. It's not only to show support for veterans but also raise awareness of the unique challenges they face. Sheriff Gary Boggess says the courthouse and his office will participate-

Boggess, who is himself a military veteran, will be one of several speakers during a ceremony set for 9:00 a.m. Monday, Nov. 4^th in courtroom No. 1 in the county courthouse. It is open to the public. The weekly county commissioner's meeting will be held after the ceremony, at 10:30 a.m.

USAO Sets STEM Program for Pre-Teen Girls

Encouraging girls to consider careers in the STEM field is the goal of a program at USAO tomorrow. It's the 15th annual Women in Technology Workshop. It's for fifth and sixth grade girls and is focused on building their confidence and inspiring their interests in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs. Cost is just $5 per student and it will get underway at 8:15 tomorrow morning on the USAO campus in Austin Hall. Contact Dr. Jeanette Loutch at USAO for information.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.14 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.63.

Natural gas is $2.72 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,761 and silver is $32.96.

Obituaries

Bob Conner

Funeral service for Bob Conner, 83, of the Tuttle area will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2nd at the Newcastle First Baptist Church. He spent many years as the lead diesel mechanic for UPS. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Thursday, Oct. 31st

Use of Sales Tax for Volunteer Fire Departments Criticized

A county-wide sales tax which benefits Grady County fire departments is up for renewal in next Tuesday's election. The 1/8^th-of-a-penny sales tax has been in effect for 10 years and, if approved, would be extended for another 10 years. There are some rumblings about the use of the tax. Rodney Young, who is a board member for the Friend Volunteer Fire Department has some concerns. He says there are no checks and balances and no transparency. He gives one example–

Young also says that equipment has been purchased that is not on any station inventory list. He says he supports the work of the volunteer firefighters but wants better oversight of the spending. Kim Duke with the Grady County Fire Department says all purchase requests of more than $250 goes through a series of steps before they are approved-

This year the sales tax will bring in a little over $1.2 million which is distributed evenly to 20 fire districts in the county. That includes all the volunteer departments as well as municipal departments including the Chickasha Fire Department.

Long Lines Form for First Day of Early Voting

Voter turnout was huge yesterday for the first day of in-person, absentee voting ahead of next Tuesday's general election. At the Grady County Election Board about 2,200 people cast ballots with many waiting in line for at least an hour. Early voting will be available again today and tomorrow from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. In-person, absentee voting can only be done at the county election board where individuals are registered to vote. (Large cities have multiple sites available). Grady County Election Board Secretary Katrina Hughes says about 1,700 absentee ballots were mailed out and about 1,200 have been returned. Individuals can hand-deliver those ballots to the election board but must do so by the close of business Monday.

USAO Homecoming to Feature 'Golden Anniversary'

It's Homecoming weekend at USAO. Whitney Palesano with the alumni association says it marks a milestone for former students-

The name change from Oklahoma College of Liberal Arts to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma took place in 1974. The weekend kicks-off with a concert at Brandi's Bar and Grill tomorrow night with Dollar 98; Saturday events include a Hall of Fame brunch where faculty member Dr. Linda McElroy will be inducted into the Alumni Hall of Fame and softball coach Jadyn Wallis will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. A tailgate party Saturday afternoon was scheduled for outdoors but has been moved indoors to the USAO ballroom due to the forecast for rain.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.92 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.66.

Natural gas is $2.79 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,785 and silver is $33.64.

Obituary

William 'Butch' Baker

A memorial service for 'Butch' Baker, 78, of Chickasha will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2nd at Ferguson Funeral Home. He was a truck driver for Fairmont Dairy.

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Wednesday, Oct. 30th

More Water Issues for Chickasha

The City of Chickasha has had more than its fair share of problems with its water distribution system recently. Officials are already dealing with that water line break near the water treatment plant under some railroad tracks which has a number of homes dealing with low water pressure. Officials have declared an emergency to get repairs started as soon as possible. Last night, there was a power failure at the plant leaving many more homes with little or no water. The city posted on its Facebook page that officials were working to locate parts to make repairs and that officials have hooked up a pump to help restore water pressure.

Simultaneous Fires Break Out Tuesday

Grady County volunteer fire crews were stretched to the max yesterday battling multiple fires at the same time. Grady County Fire Chief Rodney Gregory said a barn caught fire near Ninnekah around U.S. Highway 81 and SH 277; two fires erupted between Alex and Bradley – one was a combine on fire the other a grass fire – and there was also a grass fire in the Bridge Creek area. Fire crews from about a dozen departments responded with many spending several hours at their locations, some not leaving until well after midnight. Gregory said the causes of all those fires are still under investigation.

Voters Can Cast Ballots Early Before Tuesday's Election

Early voting gets underway today ahead of next Tuesday's general election. In-person, absentee ballots may be cast at county election boards today, tomorrow, and Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Chix Airport Poised to Part of Growing Aerospace Industry

A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony was held yesterday for new hangars recently built at the Chickasha Municipal Airport. City officials, the chamber of commerce, and State Representatives Dick Lowe and Brad Boles were on hand. Also attending was Grayson Ardies, the Executive Director of the State Department of Aerospace and Aeronautics-

City officials are considering more airport improvements including the construction of a new terminal and another new hangar.

American Indian Expo Begins

Anadarko will be the place to be this week for the annual American Indian Exposition. A big parade opens the expo at 10 o'clock this morning and activities at the Caddo County Fairgrounds today through Saturday. There's a carnival, Native American arts and crafts, and the National Fancy Dance Championship. The Indian of the Year is Donna Jean Tsatoke, a citizen of the Kiowa Tribe. The Celebrity Indian of the Year is Christian Wassana, a citizen of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe and a motivational speaker and actor who started a movement called 'I Can, I Will' to inspire people to pursue their dreams. There are special events each evening at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. See the American Indian Expo Facebook page for information

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.83 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.76.

Natural gas is $2.86 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,798 and silver is $34.46.

Obituaries

Paul Gayle

Funeral service for Paul Gayle, 50, will held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1st at Bible Baptist Church. He worked for Cimarron Trailers. Arrangements are with Ferguson Funeral Home.

Larry Pace

A graveside service for Larry Pace, 71, of Cement will be held at 1:00 p.m., Nov. 1st at Celestial Gardens Cemetery in Cyril. He worked at HSI Sensing and Harrison Gypsum. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity in his name.

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Tuesday, Oct. 29th

Chix City Council Names New City Manager

City of Chickasha Public Works Director Jim Crosby has been tabbed as Chickasha's next city manager. Following a lengthy executive session during a special council meeting last night, Councilwoman Georgianne Hebblethwaite took the first step to make the hire-

The council voted 8-0 to approve with Councilwoman Erica Alexander absent from last night's meeting. Crosby has been the city's public works director for about four years. He previously served as city manager for 22 years for the City of Yukon and also spent time in Piedmont at that post. He has worked in municipal government for more than 55 years. Crosby turned 84-years old last month. If a contract can be approved Crosby would take over for current city manager Keith Johnson who is stepping down Dec. 31st.

Emergency Declared to Repair Broken Water Line

The city council declared an emergency because of the waterline break near the water treatment plant north of town. The break is underneath the Stillwater Central Railroad tracks and is causing low water pressure for homes and businesses mainly in the northeast part of the city. Public Works Director Jim Crosby says repairing or replacing the line will be a lengthy process-

Crosby said two unidentified businesses and one home have no water. They are making arrangements to get water to those locations. Crews are turning off water valves to that portion of the city overnight to allow water towers to refill.

Open House to be held at Chix Airport

Chickasha city officials will be holding an open house at the city's airport this morning. The city will have a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the airport's new hangars and a tour of the new facilities. That will be held at 10 o'clock this morning.

Hazardous Spill Workshop Scheduled

How to prevent hazardous material spills from getting into the water supply is the subject of an upcoming workshop. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Environmental Quality will host the free workshop. It's to help drinking water suppliers, industry owners like above-ground storage tank and pipeline owners; local emergency responders, and state and federal agencies to better prepare for a spill into a river or lake that supplies drinking water. The program will included using a real-world, location-specific spill scenario that participants will use to simulate a response. The workshop will be held Tuesday, December 10th at the state DEQ headquarters in OKC. To register, reach out to the DEQ or your local emergency management coordinator.

Chick Chamber, Staff Members Honored at State Meeting

Two staff members for the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce were recognized for their work at last week's state chamber of commerce executive's conference held at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Marketing Director Cassie Pool was named outstanding staff member of the year, and new membership director Maddy Mosley was recognized for graduating from the Chamber Management Institute. The chamber office received a Communication Excellence Award for digital media, specifically for the ChickTok 'Tip-of-the-Week' series. More than 90 chamber executives across the state attended the conference.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $68.04 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $72.16.

Natural gas is $2.24 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,760 and silver is $34.23.

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Monday, Oct. 28th

Fire Risk Elevated Today, Tomorrow

It's another day of warmer-than-normal temperatures and high winds which means the threat for wildfires is high. There could be record-high temperatures again today with temps expected to be around 90 degrees along with south-southwest winds gusting to more than 35mph. Officials say the fire risk will be elevated for much of central Oklahoma and near-critical in much of western Oklahoma. The National Weather Service has posted a Red Flag Warning starting at 10 o'clock this morning and running until 8 o'clock tonight and a wind advisory will be in effect for tomorrow. The Grady County Fire Department recommends obeying burn bans, avoid activities with open flames or sparks, avoid using power equipment that can create sparks, keep vehicles off dry grass, and properly discard cigarettes. They also say to call 9-1-1 to report smoke or fires. Burn bans remain in effect for Grady, Caddo, and Comanche counties.

Update on Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Fire

Officials now say more than 10,000 acres have burned in the Rush Fire that began around the Medicine Park area in Comanche County last week and spread to the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. KSWO-TV cites a statement from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service saying the fire is still active in the refuge with backing fires being used to prevent the fire from spreading into nearby communities. Officials are now requesting that national resources be brought in. A number of Grady County firefighters were summoned to help. A task force included units from Amber, Acme, Bailey, Bridge Creek, Cox City, Farwell, Friend, Harold, Naples, Ninnekah, Pioneer, Pocasset, Rush Springs, and Tuttle departments.

Parts of Chickasha Still Impacted by Water Line Break

Many Chickasha residents continue feeling the effects of a broken waterline which occurred in the north part of the city late last week. The break is in the area of North 4th Street on a line that runs under the railroad tracks. Many residents have experienced no or low water pressure since last Thursday. City Manager Keith Johnson said crews may have to remove a section of the railroad tracks to make repairs. Officials have to get approval from the railroad. Crews have to repair or replace a section of an 18-inch in diameter water line. Officials are turning off water valves overnight to allow water towers to re-fill. Crews may not be able to begin repairs until later this week.

Chix Public School Foundation to Award Grants This Week

Thousands of dollars in new equipment and learning materials will soon be in Chickasha school classrooms. The Chickasha Public School Foundation will be awarding teacher grants this week. Teachers apply for the grants within the first month of school, and the grant requests are reviewed by a committee of individuals who serve on the Foundation Board of Trustees. The trustees approved 30 of 38 requests totaling more than $44,000. Mallory Karnes with the Foundation tells where the grants will be distributed-

Teachers won't know they received their grants until Foundation officials arrive at their classrooms on Friday.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $67.41 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $71.59.

Natural gas is $2.44 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,741 and silver is $33.55.

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Saturday, Oct. 26th

Broken Water Line to Impact Parts of Chickasha for Days

City of Chickasha officials say a number of homes and even some businesses will have low water pressure for a week or longer. Officials discovered a broken 18-inch water line that runs underneath railroad tracks in the north part of town yesterday. Residents started noticing water pressure issues late Thursday afternoon. Officials say they will have to work with the railroad and get emergency repairs approved by the city council before they can start the work. Water valves in the area will be shut off during the overnight hours to allow water towers to re-fill. Water will be turned off from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. The area affected is north of Choctaw Avenue. Officials did not say how many water customers are affected. Check the City of Chickasha's Facebook page for updates.

Hundreds of Acres Scorched in Medicine Park Area Fire

Fire officials are estimating nearly 2,400 acres burned in the fire that broke out north of Lawton in the Medicine Park area Thursday afternoon including about 1,000 acres in the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. The fire burned close to the historic Holy City of the Wichitas which was included in the evacuation order issued Thursday. Officials have named it the Rush Fire as it broke out near Rush Lake.  Nearly 200 firefighters from 30 local, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies responded. Crews worked to bulldoze fire lines, deliver water drops, perform prescribed back-burning, as well as direct fire suppression. Evacuation centers were established at the Comanche Nation Tribal Complex and Arena Cowboy Church. Evacuees were allowed to return to their homes yesterday.  Portions of the wildlife refuge remain closed including the Holy City, Mount Scott, and Lake Elmer Thomas.

Talk Show Topic

Matt Stockman, Tourism and Festival of Light director with the Chickasha Chamber of Commerce is this week's guest on the KOOL Konversation to give a preview of the upcoming Festival which opens in less than four weeks. Find a podcast of the program under the Community tab on this website.

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Friday, Oct. 25th

Emotions High at Ninnekah School Board/Town Hall Meeting

The Ninnekah school board continues being criticized by patrons who are angry about how the board decided to pay for the $7.5 million settlement of a lawsuit filed against the district. The lawsuit was filed after 14 former student-athletes said they were sexually assaulted by former girls basketball coach Ron Akins who is serving a 25-year prison term after pleading guilty to 10 of the charges. In a meeting Wednesday night, KFOR TV reports that many residents wanted school board members to resign. One person said he wanted to hold some people accountable that knew about the settlement before homeowners and landowners did. A consultant hired by the school board said taxpayers weren't notified in advance about the settlement because discussions are confidential until an agreement is made. Another suggestion was to postpone some school bond projects to use those funds though it was questioned if that could legally occur. The consultant said the board had to balance the financial impact of a potential verdict as well as what they believed would be a fair settlement and that the board spent hours considering the issues. School board member Dustin Tate said the board has been through all the emotions, all of the anger, and hopes that someone could bring the board new ideas. Another meeting is expected to be scheduled in a couple of weeks.

Fire Crews Summoned to Help with Meers Blaze

Grady County volunteer fire fighters were called out help with one of two wildfires in neighboring counties yesterday. The Grady County Task Force was deployed to the Meers Fire in Comanche County. Comanche County Emergency Management issued a fire emergency for a blaze that erupted near the Holy City where there were several evacuations. Access to Lake Lawtonka was closed to allow aircraft to scoop water out of the lake to help firefighter efforts. A large grass fire also erupted in Caddo County in the Cogar area where crews worked to beat back flames for several hours.

Ampo Students Experience 'Journey of Hope'

Students at Amber-Pocasset schools learned of the terrifying days that followed the April 19th, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City yesterday. The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum now has a traveling exhibit called Journey of Hope which made a stop in Amber. Among the 168 people who died in the bombing was 18-month old Blake Kennedy, the son of Steve and Laura Kennedy of Amber. Laura worked in the Murrah Building and Blake was in the day care center that day. Steve and Laura's daughter Jennifer, who was born three years after the bombing and is an elementary school teacher at Ampo, says the memory of the brother she never met inspires her to encourage students to do great things in their lives-

The exhibit is used to the share the message of the 30th anniversary of the bombing which is 'A Day of Darkness - Years of Light'. It salutes not only the memory of those who died and the 600 people who survived the bombing, but also the work of the first responders in the days after the attack. Students were asked to sign pledge cards promising their own acts of Service, Honor, and Kindness which are considered the Oklahoma Standard. There was also a re-dedication of the Survivor Tree sapling planted at the school in Blake's honor on the 10th anniversary of the bombing. The tree is now 20 years old and thriving. The exhibit will be in Minco later this year and in 2025.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.47 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.65.

Natural gas is $2.52 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,732 and silver is $33.33.

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Thursday, Oct. 24th

Overdose Leads to Arrest of Suspected Drug Trafficker

A drug trafficking suspect is behind bars after Chickasha police respond to an individual suffering from a drug overdose. An officer was dispatched to a medical emergency in the 2800 block of South 4th Street Monday afternoon. A vehicle had pulled over and there was an unresponsive individual lying in the street with his lips turning blue. He was taken to the hospital. A probable cause affidavit indicates that officers found what was believed to be fentanyl in the vehicle and authorities arrested the driver, 23-year old Trace Levi Turkelson of Chickasha, on a drug complaint. At the hospital the man who overdosed told investigators that he and Turkelson were smoking the drug. Turkelson has been charged with a felony for aggravated trafficking and he is being held in the Grady County Jail on a $600,000 bond.

OKC Bombing Memorial Exhibit at Ampo Schools Today

Students at Amber-Pocasset schools will get to experience a traveling exhibit of the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum today. It's called Journey of Hope which is an exhibit that will visit all 77 Oklahoma counties. The exhibit marks next year's 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. One of the children who died that day was Blake Kennedy. Relatives of Blake - Jennifer Kennedy and Christie McComas - will share their stories with students. The event is a chance to honor family members of those who died and the survivors and first responders who were impacted. State Rep. Dick Lowe of Amber and State Sen. Lonnie Paxton of Tuttle will be part of the program. After the program students will plant a Survivor Tree sapling.

Fire Danger High in Western Oklahoma

The Grady County Fire Department is asking individuals to take extra precaution today to help reduce the risk of wildfires. Much of western Oklahoma will be at a high risk for fires with temperatures rising above 90 degrees with south winds increasing to 30mph and higher. Burn bans are in effect for several counties and there should be no outdoor burning. Officials urge anyone hauling a trailer to make they won't be dragging a chain or even a piece of wire that can spark fires along the roadway. They also say if you see smoke to call 9-1-1.

Chix Mayor Prepares Inaugural 'State-of-the-City' Speech

Chickasha Mayor Zach Grayson will present his first State of the City address next week. He's expected to discuss city achievements over the last year and plans for the city's future. The presentation will be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and will be held at noon next Thursday, Oct. 31st at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Cost is $25 for chamber members and $30 for prospective members. It includes a catered lunch from Luigi's. Individuals planning to attend should RSVP the chamber by the close of business Monday, Oct. 28th. Registration is available on the chamber's website: www.chickashachamber.com

State Special Olympics to Host First Autumn Games

For the very first time Oklahoma's Special Olympics athletes will have a competition this fall. More than 500 athletes will participate in the games which will be held in Stillwater this weekend. Among the sports will be equestrian competitions, flag football, cheerleading, and events for children as young as three years old. John Seals is the vice president of sports and training of Special Olympics in Oklahoma. He says the event represents a new chapter for the organization and marks a milestone in their efforts to offer inclusive sporting opportunities year-round. Special Olympics Oklahoma is already known for hosting the largest summer games in the country each May. The goal of the fall games is to build on that tradition by offering athletes more platforms to compete and connect with their communities. Games will be held on the campus of Oklahoma State University and the Youth Fitness Zone.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $72.22 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $76.40.

Natural gas is $2.38 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,749 and silver is $34.42.

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Wednesday, Oct. 23rd

Ninnekah School Board to hold Special Meeting Tonight

Ninnekah school district patrons are expected to pack the school cafeteria tonight. The school board has scheduled a special meeting to continue discussion of a recent decision to have property owners pay for a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the district which was settled out of court. The lawsuit was filed by more than a dozen former student-athletes who were sexually assaulted by former coach Ron Akins who is serving 25-years behind bars after pleading guilty to those charges. The school board initially passed a resolution to have the estimated 2,000 property owners in the district pay $3,000 over the next three years to help pay for the settlement. Tonight's meeting will get underway at 5:30.

Chix Council OKs Infrastructure Projects

Some left-over business from Monday night's Chickasha City Council meeting. The panel awarded a bid to Krapff-Reynolds Construction Company to rehabilitate a sewer lift station at 23rd and Grand Avenue at a cost of just over $73,000. The group also approved going out for bids for city janitorial services. The group also accepted some infrastructure work completed in the Sleepy Hollow residential area at 9th and Country Club Road on permanent sewer and draining easements. City officials are also inviting the public to a ribbon-cutting and open house at the airport next week for the new hangars that have recently been built. There will be a short program and lunch will be provided. The event will be Tuesday, Oct. 29th starting at 10 a.m. Officials ask that those planning to attend to RSVP by this Friday by calling city hall at 405-222-6010.

Speaker Named for Grady County Historical Society Event

The director of the Oklahoma Historical Society will be the guest speaker for The Grady County Historical Society's annual membership meeting. Trait Thompson will address the group during its 51^st anniversary celebration on Monday, Nov. 4th at the Grady County Fairgrounds. Reservations are due by Oct. 31st. Contact Pat Cunningham at the Grady County Historical Society Museum.

Chix Community Thanksgiving Meals to be Available

Thanksgiving is just over a month away and plans are underway to hold the annual Chickasha Community Thanksgiving dinner. Area churches are combining efforts to prepare a traditional meal with turkey and all the trimmings on Thursday, Nov. 28th. Deliveries will be available to homebound individuals and individuals can call New Life Christian Church at 405-222-5433 to place their orders. Those meals will go out between 10 and 11 a.m. Thanksgiving Day. To-go meals can be picked up at the Chickasha Soup Kitchen from noon to 1 p.m. that day. There will not be a 'dine-in' meal served. The meals are free but donations are welcome.

Cattle Producers to hold Chili Cook-off

Grady County Cattle Producers will host their first-ever chili cook-off and cornhole tournament next month. There will be adult and junior divisions with junior competitors to be under 18-years old. There is only one category for the chili cook-off which is homestyle chili. It is open to the public with entry fees of $25 for adults and $10 for juniors. The event will be held Friday, Nov. 15th at Hillcrest Nursery east of Verden starting at 6:00 p.m. For a list of rules contact the Grady County OSU Extension Office or see the Grady County Cattle Producers Facebook page.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.80 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $75.06.

Natural gas is $2.30 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,765 and silver is $34.81.

Obituary

Sheri Porter

A graveside service for Sheri Porter, 60, of Norman will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25th at Rose Hill Cemetery. She worked for the State of Oklahoma. Arrangements are with Sevier Funeral Home.

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Tuesday, Oct. 22nd

Chix Council Approves Downtown TIF District 

By a 6-3 vote, the Chickasha City Council approved the creation of a new Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District. John Smith, Erica Alexander, Georgianne Hebblethwaite, Oscar Nelson, Kia Ginn, and Mayor Zack Grayson all voted for the plan while Brian Gerdes, Kelly Boyd, and Charlie Burruss voted against it. The district will go into effect on January 1st and will be in effect for 25 years until the year 2050. The district is basically the downtown area. January 1st will serve as the base to determine the amount of funds that will be set aside to help pay for the installation of future water and sewer lines. The city could see the first sales tax revenues as early as March or April of next year while increases in property tax revenues won't be realized until 2027.

New Housing Addition Gets Council Approval

The council approved the development of a new housing addition. After a short public hearing the panel voted unanimously to approve the preliminary plat for what will be known as Enclave Estates southwest of 29th and Grand Avenue. The plat is about 16 1/2 acres and is already zoned for residential use. The proposal is to build about 74 homes all around 1,300 sq. ft. in size.

Current City Employee Applies for City Manager Post

Is Chickasha's next city manager already working for the city? Mayor Zach Grayson announced last night that he has put on hold a decision by the council to hire a head-hunting firm to conduct a nationwide search for candidates. Grayson told the council-

Grayson did not identify the individual who applied. The council will have a special meeting and executive session next week to discuss the candidate. Current City Manager Keith Johnson announced earlier this month he'll be stepping down at the end of the year.

More Counties Call for Burn Bans

Nearly half the counties in Oklahoma have now implemented burn bans. 30 of Oklahoma's 77 counties now have the bans due to warmer-than-normal temperatures, low humidity, dry vegetation, and a lack of rainfall all of which enhance the risk of wildfires. Yesterday commissioners in Grady and Caddo counties extended burn bans for two more weeks through Nov. 4th. Much of the state is in a drought with many areas in serious- to extreme-drought conditions according to the U.S. Drought Monitor.

Chix Hosts State Chamber Executive's Conference

Chamber of Commerce representatives from across the state are in Chickasha this week for the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executive's annual conference. Nearly 100 chamber reps are attending sessions which include The Importance of Vibrant Downtowns in Rural Oklahoma; Effective Communication; an Update on the Political Landscape; Running Local Non-Candidate Campaigns; How to Prepare for Audits; Partnerships Between Chambers and Local Government; Tourism; and Community Impact Through Leadership Programs. The conference runs through tomorrow at the Grady County Fairgrounds.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $71.29 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.97.

Natural gas is $2.35 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,748 and silver is $34.45.

Obituaries

Beverly Sorrels

Funeral service for Beverly Sorrels, 84, of Chickasha will be at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 23rd at Sevier Funeral Home. She worked for Pool Mortgage Company and in the office of Epworth Methodist Church.

Kay Harris

A memorial service for Kay Harris, 79, of Chickasha will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9th at Verden First Baptist Church. She was a homemaker. Arrangements are with McRay Funeral Home.

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Monday, Oct. 21st

Chix Council to Consider Creating TIF District 

After getting the narrowest possible approval the Chickasha City Council will consider creating one of two proposed Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts when the group meets tonight. The panel will consider a resolution to create and establish a commencement date beginning in January. The council voted 5-4 to approve the creation of TIF District 2 and TIF District 3 last month. The council will also have a public hearing to discuss a preliminary plat for a new residential area called Enclave Estates to be located in the southwest part of the city and consider awarding a more than $73,000 bid to a firm to rehabilitate a sewer lift station at 23rd and Grand. The council will also consider accepting and ratifying a master service agreement and Task Order 1 with Meshek and Associates for the city's flood mitigation project. The council meets at 6:30 tonight at city hall.

Failed Lindsay Bank to Re-Open as Branch of Duncan Bank

Here is a follow-up to the weekend story about the closing of a Lindsay bank. Federal officials closed the First National Bank of Lindsay on Friday. News reports say the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) closed the bank after finding false and deceptive records suggesting fraud may have led to the depletion of the bank's capital. The agency also found the bank was in an unsafe or unsound condition to conduct business. The OCC is referring the matter to the U.S. Department of Justice for further investigation. The First Bank and Trust of Duncan will assume the insured deposits and will be opening in Lindsay this morning. All depositors of the closed bank will automatically become depositors of First Bank and Trust and their insured deposits will continue to be covered by the FDIC.

Burn Bans Expanding Across Parched Oklahoma

More Oklahoma counties are implementing burn bans as warmer-than-normal temperatures and dry conditions persist. Grady County has been under a burn ban for the last two weeks which was scheduled to end today but commissioners are expected to extend the ban when the panel meets this morning. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows most of Grady County in a severe drought with southern and western portions in an extreme drought. The drought monitor shows nearly all of Caddo, Stephens, and Comanche Counties also in extreme drought which impacts all of southwestern Oklahoma.

Grady County Sheriff Warns of Another Phone Scam 

Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess is issuing another warning of a telephone scam where callers are posing as deputies and this time even using deputies' names.  A post on the sheriff's office Facebook page says callers say they are conducting a fundraiser for the office. The sheriff says deputies will never call and ask individuals to contribute to fundraisers nor will they ask you to pay any fines over the phone. Fines of any kind are paid at the court clerk's office in the county courthouse. Boggess says anyone who has a concern about a phone call they receive can call the sheriff's office non-emergency phone number, 405-224-0984.

Energy and Metals

Crude oil on the NYMEX is $70.36 per barrel.

London-based Brent crude is $74.06.

Natural gas is $2.29 per million BTUs.

Gold is $2,747 and silver is $34.19.

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